On July 1, 2021, the second phase of the Rural Alberta Provincial Integrated Defence Response initiative will be expanding with about 260 Sheriff Highway Patrol officers gaining authority to investigate a wider range of traffic-related occurrences.
The sheriffs will be able to investigate impaired driving and criminal offences they encounter in the course of their duties.
The RCMP will be able to respond to more, high priority criminal matters with giving highway patrol sheriffs the authority to handle more incidents on provincial highways.
In the first phase on April 1, 2021, Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Officers roles were expanded so they could respond to to requests from the RCMP to be first at the scene of an emergency in cases where they are closer than police.
Fish and wildlife officers can also respond to RCMP requests for backup, which could involve helping the police locate suspects or preserve a crime scene.
Around 400 peace officers in Sheriff Highway Patrol and Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services are in the RAPID Response initiative to reduce response times in rural Alberta.
-Erika Rolling, Trending 55 Newsroom
