More than 200 people met in Alix to attend the first of three meetings on rural crime hosted by Red Deer-Lacombe MP Blaine Calkins on Monday night.

They came to ask questions and make suggestions to a seven-member panel that included conservative politicians, Alix mayor Rob Fehr, and senior-ranking members from the RCMP.

Self defence came up more than once during the meeting. A majority of those in the room indicated they would support a greater ability to take the law into their own hands.

However, the police on the panel discouraged such a practice.

Sgt. Bruce Holliday, the Bashaw detachment commander, said afterward that the law allows necessary force for people to defend themselves if they fear for their lives, or “grievous bodily harm.”

But when it comes to defending property, Holliday said criminal charges could be laid if one goes too far, not to mention the risk involved.

“It’s something that I hear at a lot of meetings that I attend. I understand it and I feel for the community members who are frustrated by what’s happening. However, for them to react by taking actions where it’s not necessary, could be detrimental to their lives,” he said.

Citizen engagement, such as participating in a rural crime watch group, was also top of mind. Holliday said that would help police.

“No one knows better in the community of what’s going on than the people that live there. The quickest way I can find out what’s going on in the community is to speak  to people,” he said.

Law enforcement in Lacombe County briefly became a subject of discussion, with many calling for the county to hire the RCMP.

John Ireland, Division 1 councillor, was present and said that is a possible course of action, but will depend on the willingness of residents to pay the cost.

A plain clothes investigator working for the county through the Blackfalds RCMP detachment will cost more than $150,000 per year for three years. That position is expected to be filled this year.