Grande Prairie, Alta., to establish municipal police service, phase out RCMP
CBC
Grande Prairie, Alta., is one step closer to establishing a municipal police service that would take over from the RCMP.
City council voted 8-1 to establish a city police service and to end its contract with Canada's national police service during a public meeting that began Monday afternoon and ended shortly after midnight.
RCMP will remain in the northwestern Alberta city while officers with the Grande Prairie Municipal Police Service are phased in over the next five years.
Grande Prairie's decision comes at a time when the provincial government is looking at the idea of doing away with its RCMP service contract in favour of a provincial police force. The province held engagement sessions in 2021 and 2022 but no final decisions have been made.
Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton said having a city police service will increase local oversight, cut down on bureaucracy, reduce policing costs and aid with officer retention and recruitment.
RCMP have policed Grande Prairie since 1937. The city of 68,000 people is 450 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.
The union representing RCMP opposes the change, characterizing the transition as politically motivated and ill-informed of the true cost to taxpayers.
"Council does not take this decision lightly," Clayton told council.
"This is not a slight on any service that we've been provided with the RCMP for the many years we've been provided it.
"It's simply about finding the best service model for a community we care deeply about."
Councillor Chris Thiessen, who cast the sole vote against the motion, urged council to delay a decision and give residents and council more time to understand the implications of the change.
Clayton said the change has been under review for years and is needed to strengthen safety in Grande Prairie and improve communication between police and local government.
"It's just not the model that serves us," she said. "There has been example after example where the RCMP machine can not be adaptive to community needs."
To start the transition, the city needs ministerial approval to form a municipal police service and change community policing methods.
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