Province says peace officers on the street can help curb drug-related crime

By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on February 27, 2025.

asmith@medicinehatnews.com

The Government of Alberta is working to co-ordinate peace officers with local police, to better combat fentanyl-related social disorder.

In order to more effectively address fentanyl and the illicit drug trade, the province is requesting for more than 800 community peace officers from 34 large- and mid-sized municipalities to begin co-ordinating operations with local police.

“We know a law enforcement presence will make a difference. Fentanyl continues to endanger the lives of Albertans and is devastating to families and communities,” Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services, said in a statement. “Crisis demands immediate and unified action. By aligning the efforts of community peace officers and local police, we are ensuring a co-ordinated team response to combat the illicit drug trade to improve public safety. When community peace officers and local police work together in integrated street patrols, we create a visible and unified front against crime.”

This measure is in response to the province working collaboratively across all levels of government to address concerns around fentanyl trafficking and border security, the province says. As this is a severe and complex issue, the affected municipalities have also been asked to implement operational alignment for their peace officers.

“It takes a team effort to tackle the fentanyl crisis. Every level of government has a role to play,” said Ric McIver, Minister of Municipal Affairs. “Working together with our municipal partners will ensure we can address this crisis, improve public safety for Albertans and combat fentanyl, which has destroyed families and livelihoods.”

This change aims to bolster the presence of law enforcement, and in doing so more effectively deter criminal and illegal activities.

When community peace officers and municipal police work together in integrated street patrols, said the province, it will create a visible and unified front against crime. They continued that “an increase in law enforcement boots on the ground on Alberta streets will create the operational consistency needed to more effectively combat illicit drugs, crime and social disorder.”

9
-8