County mayor welcomes rural police funding changes

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on December 20, 2025.

Mayor of Cypress County Dan Hamilton is encouraged by the changes the province announced Thursday to the funding model for rural policing.

Hamilton has been outspoken about the failures of the current system, which has increased the cost of policing in Cypress County by just under $800,000 since it was introduced in 2020.

Costs were projected to jump a further $500,000 next year prior to the changes announced Thursday.

“I’m glad we’ve been vocal enough for them to notice that we’re upset about it,” Hamilton told the News on Friday.

Hamilton says details on how rebates might function are still forthcoming.

“We’re not exactly sure what it’s going to be, or how much they’ll be rebating, but they have said that they’re going to rebate the positions that are not being filled right now. So we just have to wait now and see what kind of plan they come up with and how they’re going to do it.”

While he said the changes aren’t sufficient to reduce costs to reflect pre-2020 levels, but it’s a promising start.

“I don’t believe it’s enough for the service we’re getting, but we’ve got to realize that’s across the whole province, so it’s not exactly fair to compare apples to apples.”

Hamilton will be meeting with Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services in the new year to discuss Cypress County’s unique policing problems.