Peace River Town Council has released its Municipal Police Model Study which was prepared by BLU Alliance.
The study outlines seven recommendations aimed at improving local policing while remaining within financial constraints. The report states that although the current RCMP service model has shortcomings, transitioning to a standalone municipal police service is not financially viable at this time.
Instead, the study recommends the Town focus on maximizing control and value within the existing RCMP contract while strengthening its own enforcement.
Key recommendations include using the newly established Municipal Policing Committee to address workload and service deficiencies, advocate for local priorities such as visibility and response times, and seek formal input into detachment leadership decisions.
The report also calls for continued expansion of the Community Peace Officer program, with advocacy for enhanced provincial authorities to allow Community Peace Officers to handle more non-urgent calls.
The study also calls to formalize data sharing dashboards with the Peace River Correctional Centre and Sagitawa Friendship Society, while advocating for a “no downtown drop-off” policy for out-of-town inmate releases without a transport plan
Additional recommendations focus on strengthening responses to social issues, improving mental health and crisis intervention through expanded regional partnerships, and enhancing community-oriented policing initiatives to rebuild public trust.
Further measures include leveraging specialized provincial enforcement units to address chronic problem properties and monitoring the development of the Alberta Sheriffs Police Service. The study advises a “watch and wait” approach when it comes to the Alberta Sheriffs Police Service, noting the Town should not consider a transition until the province provides clear information on costs, governance, and operational capacity.
Keith Hopper, Trending 55
