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County approves solutions for RCMP

Rocky View County (RVC) council approved a short-term RCMP contract for Langdon-area policing and renewed contracts with the Strathmore RCMP detachment at a meeting May 22.
Policing Options
The RCMP contract renewal approved by council May 22 is only a short-term solution, according to Lorraine Wesley-Riley. Administration will continue to look for long-term solutions.

Rocky View County (RVC) council approved a short-term RCMP contract for Langdon-area policing and renewed contracts with the Strathmore RCMP detachment at a meeting May 22. According to Lorraine Wesley-Riley with RVC’s Enforcement Services, under the Alberta Police Act, municipalities must provide policing solutions once a community’s population exceeds 5,000. The municipality can either enter into an agreement for the provision of municipal policing services, establish a regional police service or establish a municipal police service, she said. “As a result of the federal census in 2016, the population of Langdon surpassed 5,000 and, therefore, the County is responsible for providing a policing solution for the hamlet by April 1, 2020,” Wesley-Riley said. After meetings with the RCMP Operations Strategy Branch, the Chief Constable of the Calgary Police and several police commissions belonging to the Alberta Association of Police Governance, Wesley-Riley said administration determined contracting the RCMP was the most feasible option, based on the short timeline for implementation. “The RCMP is recommending a Post Model, whereby the members dedicated to the hamlet would be stationed at the Strathmore detachment,” she said. According to Wesley-Riley, the cost per member would be approximately $165,000. That figure includes overhead costs related to the Strathmore detachment. Following a unanimous vote to contract the RCMP for the Langdon policing, council directed administration to continue to search for a long-term solution. Council also voted unanimously to renew an agreement with Alberta Justice and Solicitor General and a Memorandum of Understanding with the RCMP K Division for an enhanced RCMP position for Division 4, which holds Langdon and Indus, and part of Division 5, which holds Conrich and Delacour. “The existing agreement expires on June 30, 2019,’ Wesley-Riley said. “If renewed, the term of the new agreement would be for three years.” The enhanced position was created in 2016. The officer filling the position is intended to focus on crime prevention, provide selective enforcement duties and participate in public safety programs.

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