Municipal Police Model Study Completed

Our Municipal Police Model Study is now out!
 
Thanks to everyone who was involved in providing input.
 
 
As for a summary, the report puts forward seven key recommendations, as written below:
 
The central finding is that while the current RCMP model has significant flaws, a transition to a standalone service is financially prohibitive. Therefore, the Town's immediate strategy should be to maximize its control and value from the existing RCMP contract while strategically building its internal enforcement capacity.
 
1. Address Workload & Service Deficiencies: Mandate the new MPC to use the findings of this report's workload analysis (Section 5.5.3) to formally request a review of the detachment's "POST" model to ensure equitable service for the Town. The MPC must also be used to enforce local priorities (visibility, response times) and continue to demand formal input on Detachment Commander selection.
 
2. Expand the Community Peace Officer (CPO) Program: Continue to invest in the municipal CPO program and actively petition the provincial government and RCMP for enhanced CPO authorities to offload non-urgent calls (e.g., minor property crime, non-injury collisions) from RCMP frontline officers.
 
3. Formalize Social Issue & PRCC Response: Actively implement the mitigation measures identified in this report, including formalizing data sharing dashboards with the PRCC and Sagitawa Friendship Society and advocating for a "no downtown drop-off" policy for out-of-town inmate releases without a transport plan.
 
4. Strengthen Mental Health and Crisis Intervention: Advocate for the expansion of the Regional Police and Crisis Team (RPACT) and formally establish an integrated, person-centric Hub Table to provide comprehensive support for individuals in crisis.
 
5. Enhance Community-Oriented Policing: Work with the Alberta RCMP and Government of Alberta to reinstate the Auxiliary Policing Program to foster community connections and collaborate on coordinated communication campaigns to build public trust.
 
6. Leverage Provincial Enforcement Units: Utilize specialized, no-cost provincial units, such as the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) unit, to address illegal activities at persistent problem properties.
 
7. Monitor the Alberta Sheriffs Police Service (ASPS): Adopt a "watch and wait" approach. The Town should not consider transitioning to the ASPS until the province provides a clear and viable model for cost, local governance, and operational capabilities.