Regional committees aim to tackle unique policing challenges in rural communities

By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on September 26, 2024.

RCMP-policed communities in the region are set to have a bigger voice in how they receive these services, following a provincial order-in-council Wednesday regarding the Police Amendment Act.

The act, originally passed during the fall session in 2022, details the creation of municipal and regional policing committees and the Provincial Police Advisory Board, which will help set policing priorities for their areas. The associated new regulations will come into force March 1, 2025.

“By creating new civilian governance bodies, we’re responding to Albertans’ long-standing desire for more say in how the RCMP police their communities while advancing a paradigm shift that sees local police across the province as an extension and a reflection of the communities they serve,” said Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services.

Ellis continued to say that unique communities have unique public safety priorities and the creation of civilian governance bodies will address this issue.

“Creating mandatory civilian governance bodies also ensures accountability, as officers will be held responsible for their actions and behaviour,” said Ellis.

Communities with a population above 15,000 with municipal policing contracts will have their own committees, which will work with elected municipal officials as well as the RCMP detachment.

Communities with fewer than 15,000 but more than 5,000 people will be represented by regional policing committees to which they will be required to recruit and appoint members, where communities with fewer than 5,000 people will instead be represented by the Provincial Police Advisory Board.

“Amendments to the Police Act support your Alberta RCMP’s ongoing efforts to ensure that communities have a strong voice in their policing priorities,” said deputy commissioner Rob Hill, commanding officer with the Alberta RCMP. “In particular, it will assist our work on local resourcing, responding to calls for mental health and addictions issues, targeting prolific offenders and dealing with hate crimes.”

The Alberta RCMP says it welcomes any changes or enhancements to oversight and governance that help meet the needs of the communities it serves.

The City of Brooks is still waiting for further details on the precise requirements as they are not currently certain of what will be expected, but said it believes it has a similar entity already in place with the Safe Communities Committee.

Brooks officials say the city has a good relationship with the local RCMP detachment, and does not anticipate any major changes.