The continued questions around switching away from the RCMP to different policing models is taking its toll on local officers, says St. Albert’s head cop.
Insp. Ryan Comaniuk of the St. Albert RCMP detachment told The Gazette in an email the ongoing uncertainty of the future of policing in Alberta has started to take a toll on RCMP members.
“As the winds of change blow through the policing landscape in Alberta, naturally it creates a level of worry among RCMP employees,” he said.
“Notwithstanding this instability, these officers come to work everyday hoping they can continue to serve this community well into the future.”
But in light of St. Albert Coun. Ken MacKay's recent information request asking city administration to provide an estimate for studying a transition to a municipal police force, the local RCMP officer in charge says he understands if council may want to consider their options.
“Coun. MacKay had more than 30 years with the Edmonton Police Service, so I know this issue is very important to him and he wants what’s best for St. Albert,” Comaniuk said.
“We recognize that communities or municipalities may be interested in discussing or considering the provision of their own services.”
“The Alberta RCMP has always said that communities should evaluate their services,” Comaniuk said, adding, “policing is a significant budget item for municipalities and should be regularly evaluated.”
In an interview on March 20, MacKay says he wants to have a better idea of St. Albert's available options following the recent decision by the city council of Grande Prairie, Alberta to create a municipal police department, and the ongoing rumblings from the provincial government regarding the development of a provincial police force.
“It's not to actually go out and start a business case to replace the RCMP with our own municipal police service or even to look at regional police services,” MacKay said of the intent behind the information request. “It's more about (looking at) what's all involved.”
“We don't have a policing problem but we have to be ready to respond if any one of these issues comes up and I'd much rather be out in front of them,” he said.
City staff have 30 days to provide MacKay with a report, which will also be posted to the City's website.
