Alberta RCMP Declared Most Cost-Effective Policing Option

Rocky Mountain House has received a report indicating that the Alberta RCMP represents the most cost-effective policing option for the municipality. The analysis, commissioned by the town and conducted by Western Management Consultants (WMC), asserts that despite rising contract costs, the RCMP remains more competitive than alternative policing models.

During a council meeting on August 5, 2023, project lead Joyce Tustian presented the report’s findings. She emphasized that as a smaller municipality, Rocky Mountain House lacks the necessary resources to efficiently establish alternative policing arrangements. Tustian noted, “You just aren’t big enough to do the things as a small municipality in a way that is cost-effective.”

The report evaluated five different policing models, including an independent municipal police service, community peace officers, and an optimized RCMP service. Tustian indicated that while hybrid and regional models offer potential long-term benefits, they are complex in design and implementation, failing to meet the town’s immediate needs.

The analysis highlighted the current strain on local policing resources, exacerbated by increasing mental health crises, homelessness, and substance abuse issues. Administration of the Rocky Mountain House detachment has been challenging, particularly given its geographical location within Clearwater County. Deputy Mayor Tina Hutchinson expressed concerns that the RCMP’s ability to respond effectively is hampered by the vast area they cover, stating, “You can’t just send one member. It’s two or three that are going out, and those calls take several hours.”

To fund this study, Rocky Mountain House received $60,000 from the provincial government, alongside $30,000 contributed by the municipality. The report notes that the municipality currently has 12 municipally funded positions, reduced from 14 due to significant increases in RCMP contract costs driven by a national collective bargaining agreement.

The report made three key recommendations: maintaining the current RCMP contract, optimizing the contract through enhanced oversight and community support, and establishing an integrated public safety unit. It argues that sustaining the RCMP contract avoids substantial transition costs and operational complexities associated with creating new policing entities.

Tustian stressed the importance of strengthening the town’s policing committee, which serves as a crucial link between the municipality and the RCMP. She urged Rocky Mountain House to actively engage in advocacy for its policing needs, rather than remaining passive. “You should be a very active partner,” she stated.

As the council plans to discuss the report further, it recognizes the urgency of addressing the challenges facing local law enforcement. The province remains committed to assisting municipalities with their policing needs, having allocated over $2.2 million through the Indigenous and Municipal Police Transition Study Grant to support 35 municipalities, 23 First Nations, and eight Métis settlements in evaluating their police services.

The findings and recommendations from this report will likely shape the future of policing in Rocky Mountain House, as officials consider how best to respond to the growing demands placed on local law enforcement.