No mention of Premier Danielle Smith’s Alberta police force proposal in Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis’ mandate letter, hinting at a change in law enforcement priorities.
In Smith’s mandate letter to the Public Safety Minister on July 29, there was no mention of the Alberta police force; instead, the focus was on sheriffs and working with communities to support them with community policing options.
“I think that’s just the Premier’s way of acknowledging that the majority of municipalities tended to have no interest in the provincial police force,” explained Town of Stettler Mayor Sean Nolls, when speaking about Smith not mentioning the Alberta police force. “Because the RCMP works. It has worked for a long time, just like any other police force, it has its issues that he’s tweaked, but it’s been really effective. We have a really great relationship with the RCMP.”
The discussions about the potential establishment of an Alberta police force have been ongoing, generating both interest and skepticism among municipal leaders.
County of Stettler Reeve Larry Clarke emphasized the challenges of creating a separate police force, including concerns about costs and the need for extensive training.
He also pointed out that introducing more sheriffs could provide a viable alternative to creating a new police force or creating a pathway to establishing a new police force.
“When you see what they’re doing with sheriffs right now. I think that what really has been recognized is there’s a gap that has to be filled, to provide safety for our kids and our elderly,” said Clarke. “By bringing in more Sheriffs, I guess if they were to go down the road with provincial policing, and after they would have more of their core also too.”
In her letter, Smith highlighted plans to review sheriffs’ education and training curriculum, enabling them to take on a broader scope of policing duties.
The letter also mentioned implementing a modern ankle bracelet monitoring program and enhancing 24-hour bail monitoring for violent and sexual offenders to keep offenders off the streets.
Nolls and Clarke agreed that keeping repeat offenders off the streets is essential when considering the crime rate.
“There’s a lot of cases with repeat offenders,” said Nolls. “And acknowledging and trying to fix the issue with provincial prosecutors, by adding more to that office actually should lower crime rates and also can lower and lower the budget as well, because you’re not dealing with repeat offenders over and over again.”
Clarke emphasized this opinion stating, “The thing we have to figure out is when they catch the bad guys, how they prosecute them and keep them in jail.”
Deputy Commissioner Curtis Zablocki, M.O.M., Commanding Officer of “K” Division RCMP, responded to the mandate letter on Aug. 1 in a statement saying, “As the provincial police service, the Alberta RCMP remains committed to the priority of protecting all Albertans and keeping communities safe, and it is reassuring to see this commitment reflected in the Minister’s mandate letter.”
Jessica Campbell
ECA Review
