News release
Crime Reduction Unit having positive impact in downtown core
August 19, 2025
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Revelstoke, British Columbia
From: Ridge Meadows RCMP
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Ridge Meadows RCMP is providing an update on the Crime Reduction Unit (CRU), a dedicated team tasked with providing a visible police presence in the downtown core of Maple Ridge.
Officers with CRU began regular foot and bike patrols in late April 2025, with the goal of identifying pervasive community safety concerns and devising project-based solutions in the downtown area.
In the last four months, CRU officers have logged over 500 kilometres on foot and bike patrols completing over 120 checks on individuals with conditions and proactively generating over 100 files for service in the downtown area. The unit has also made over 50 criminal code arrests and executed multiple search warrants and violation tickets.
While enforcement activity is obviously part of this team’s mandate, officers are also having direct engagement with numerous clients, businesses, and residents to ensure a visible and accessible public safety presence in the area. These patrols help deter criminal activity, strengthen relationships with the community, and lead to a greater understanding of public safety needs.
Transcript
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Video description:
A video showing the work of the Crime Reduction Unit patrolling the downtown core of Maple Ridge on bikes and on foot speaking to residents and businesses.
[An officer outside the detachment speaks to the camera]:
Sergeant Joe Whalley (his name in text box): "Hi, I'm Joe Whalley. I'm the sergeant with the Crime Reduction Unit here at the Ridge Meadows Detachment. This unit does proactive patrols throughout the downtown core of Maple Ridge on bikes and on foot to address community concerns and ongoing issues
[Officers riding their bikes, talking to a person on the street, and walking down the street]
[Two officers - Constable Jaryt Lyons and Constable Peter Chetwynd (names in text box) - are standing beside their bikes on the street and speak to the camera]
Constable Jaryt Lyons: "It's really provided us the opportunity to interact greater with the community."
[Officers riding their bikes around the city streets, from the officer's perspective and from the bikes perspective looking up at the officers.]
Constable Peter Chetwynd: "We can respond to things much quicker on a bike than via foot if we do need to jump in and help general duty, but ultimately it gives us the ability to get through the entire city and not expend a lot of energy. So it's an efficient way to get around and a great way to connect with the community and get out there and talk to people."
[Constable Chetwynd speaks to a passerby]
Constable Peter Chetwynd: "Okay, drive safe. Take care. Have a great day, sir"
[Footage of officers riding their bikes]
Constable Peter Chetwynd: "So we'll just head up to 224th and head southbound up there."
[Officers speaking to a person on the street with a shopping cart, to a woman working at store, and then walking inside the Big Box Retailer store]
Constable Peter Chetwynd: "The feedback's been really, really positive that, you know, they just feel better connected. You know, it's instead of somebody driving by in a vehicle, which is obviously necessary, but we get an opportunity to stop and talk to people and hear about their day or listen to their concerns like in that moment."
[Officers speak to an employee inside Big Box Retailer store]
Constable Peter Chetwynd: "How have things like been lately? I know you guys moved some bikes around to keep them away from the front. It seems to be working for you?"
Store employee: "Yeah, yeah."
Constable Peter Chetwynd: "Okay, good"
[Officers speak to an employee inside Phil's Engraving store]
Employee: "Having a police presence has been really good."
Cst. Chetwynd: "Awesome."
Employee: "Yeah."
Cst. Chetwynd: "Anything you want to see different or better or?"
Employee: "No, I think everything's going quite well"
[Officers speak to an employee on the street outside his barber shop]
Employee: "This is for you and for you. It's good people. I'm looking, you check everything. I'm very happy for this."
Cst. Chetwynd: "Okay, appreciate it"
Employee: "Good. Of course."
[Sgt. Whalley and Constable Torres on foot patrol speaking to passerby on the street]
Constable Torres: "Hey, sir. How's it going?"
[Constable Lyons riding his bike speaking to passerby]
Cst Lyons: "How you doing, sir? Hello."
[Constable Lyons riding his bike around city and speaking to camera]
Cst. Lyons: "One of our other team members wanted to jump in a vehicle while we're patrolling. It really just adds to the versatility of the unit, right? We're not held to the radio, but we're able to jump in and help GD whenever they need help."
[Officers on patrol down an alley-way in downtown Maple Ridge]
Cst. Chetwynd: "Ridge 504. We're just out on bike patrol here in downtown core.
[Officers speak to woman in alley-way]
Cst. Lyons: "If you need anything, let us know. Glad you're using the hub there."
[Officers riding bikes around streets and business complexes in downtown Maple Ridge]
Cst. Lyons: "If we're on our bikes and we're in the Walmart parking lot or we're by Valleyfair Mall, we can respond right away. We don't have to park our car. We can get in, you know, even ride our bikes right into the mall if we need to."
[Cst. Chetwynd and Sgt. Whalley speaking to employee at Big Box retailer and Cst. Chetwynd speaking to camera]
Cst. Chetwynd: "We've actually learned a lot from the citizens just by having those interactions. They've pointed us to other areas of concern that perhaps we were unaware."
[Cst. Chetwynd riding down residential street approaching residents in their driveway]
Cst. Chetwynd: "How's everything going? I remember the last time I saw you, you were telling me about the stuff in the back alley. So I've been back there like every day almost."
[Cst. Chetwynd and Cst. Lyons biking up to Community Resource HUB and checking on people]
Cst. Chetwynd: "We've been able to adjust where we do either bike or foot patrols based on the feedback that we're getting in those moments. So it's been very, very helpful."
[Cst. Lyons checking on an individual lying down on the curb outside the HUB]
Cst. Lyons: "You doing all right, sir? Yeah. Hi. Sorry, man. I just wanted to check on you, make sure you're doing okay."
[Officers biking away from hub]
Cst. Lyons: "Being in this element is that we're just a little bit more approachable."
Cst. Lyons speaking to camera: "When they see a squad car or a marked PC, you might get apprehensive, but we're on bikes. We're open. You know, we're within the community."
Cst. Chetwynd crossing the street speaking to woman on mobility scooter: "Hey. Careful."
Cst. Lyons: "We're waving and people are able to wave us down quicker."
[Officers on foot walking down street and shaking hands with business owner]
Cst. Lyons: "We've had that happen quite a few times where whether it's on foot or bike, we're able to interact a lot more one-on-one with the community, which is really good."
[Drone shot of officers riding bikes through Memorial Peace Park]
[RCMP/GRC copyright notice appears]
[Government of Canada wordmark with a Canadian flag appears]
[Cst. Lyons riding on street past barber shop store]
Employee out of eyesight (in text): "You come for a haircut"
Cst. Lyons: "You got it!"
“The feedback has been really positive so far,” says Ridge Meadows RCMP CRU Constable Peter Chetwynd. “Being on foot and on bikes we’re very approachable, and people feel very connected when we stop and talk to them to hear about their concerns and how their day is going.”
“We’ve learned a lot just from those interactions and been pointed to other areas of concern that perhaps we weren’t aware,” says Cst. Chetwynd. “This has allowed us to adjust our response, based on feedback in those moments, which has been very helpful.”
CRU officers continue to work proactively in collaboration with partner agencies, including social service and health care providers, along with the City of Maple Ridge’s Community Safety Officers (CSOs) and the Downtown Maple Ridge Business Improvement Association (DMRBIA).
“The business community in downtown Maple Ridge appreciates the notable increase in police presence over the last few months and the support given to address any public safety concerns,” say Nicole Archer, Executive Director of the DMRBIA. “We continue to work in partnership with the RCMP and the City of Maple Ridge to help create a safer, more welcoming downtown for everyone.”
The long-term plans for the Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) extend beyond the summer to keep up the sustained effort to make the downtown core and surrounding neighborhoods safer. There is still work to be done, however, with the end goal of reducing calls for service and addressing the complex public safety needs of the area through enforcement and engagement.
Ridge Meadows RCMP is committed to providing a visible, proactive, and community-driven approach to policing and working in partnership with all residents, businesses, and citizens.
Contacts
Media Relations Officer
Ridge Meadows RCMP
tisha.parsons@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
604-476-6917