Alberta sheriffs patrolling the province’s highways will now take their daily marching orders from the RCMP under an integration model announced Monday.
The new model for the two forces working together was considered the best option from four pilot programs that ran last year.
That model, used in Wetaskiwin, had sheriffs reporting to an RCMP supervisor for their day-to-day assignments and direction.
Other pilots in Olds, Whitecourt and Airdrie tried other options including having sheriffs take complete control of traffic safety, sharing responsibility equally and a third option similar to the status quo.
Eilish Lemieux, a spokesperson for the Solicitor General, said all of the systems had benefits, but this one set a clear chain of authority.
“All of the models had elements of success to them. It was just about finding the one that worked best,” she said. “One of the comments we received was that it was difficult to have more than one boss and I think a lot of people can relate to that.”
The province’s 107 traffic sheriffs will still report within their own organization for most issues, but will take their daily assignments from an RCMP supervisor.
Cpl. Wayne Oakes with the RCMP in Edmonton said the force welcomes the new arrangement and is pleased that it came about through a good process, with the four pilot projects.
He said overseeing the sheriffs day to day is not going to put any burden on the RCMP.
“It is what we do all the time now,” he said. “This really isn’t going to be that much different.”
Lemieux said the province believes this will streamline operations and help pave the way for safer roads.
“Prior to this they were always a complement to the traffic services offered by the RCMP. Now they are integrated together.”
She said the hope is to be able to mount targeted speeding blitzes, Checkstops and vehicle inspections.
With the two forces working closer together, Lemieux said sheriffs who encounter criminal matters will be able to swiftly get RCMP back-up to enforce them.
As peace officers the sheriffs don’t have the power to enforce the criminal code, including impaired driving and drug offences.
Oakes said while the public tends to think of traffic duties as speeding and impaired driving enforcement, the province’s highways are also conduits for illegal drugs, guns and other problems.
“The ability to integrate 178 RCMP traffic officers with 107 traffic sheriffs should help us target those issues.”
Lemieux said the two forces had a good working relationship before the change but there were limits. Now they will constantly be working together.
“They worked in partnership before in certain joint enforcement efforts, but this is day-to-day.”
