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Municipal Policing Model Study

The Town of Rocky Mountain House is exploring options for providing policing services in our community. The objectives of the study are to: 

  • Explore the existing model of using the RCMP as the Town’s municipal police force; 
  • Explore innovative, promising, or proven policing models and public safety practices;
  • Hear citizens opinions about crime and victimization; and
  • Provide policing options to address public safety concerns/measures. 

WMC (Western Management Consultants) has been retained to assist in this work.

As part of the public engagement phase, WMC will be launching a survey to understand how you experience policing in our community, and what matters to you in keeping the community safe. This survey is open to all Rocky Mountain House residents, and you are strongly encouraged to provide your feedback.

This survey has two key outcomes: 

  • to understand your sense of safety within the community
  • to determine your perception of the value received from the money invested in policing services

The survey will launch on April 22 and will remain open until Tuesday, May 6. It will take 8-10 minutes to complete. 

There will be an opportunity for further community input at one of two public forums WMC will be hosting in late May to share the survey data and gather additional community input. Stay tuned for more details.

Learn more:

Under the Police Act, every urban Alberta municipality over 5,000 people must provide its own police service. This can be achieved by either establishing a municipal police force, contracting with another municipal police service, or contracting the RCMP. The Town of Rocky Mountain House meets this requirement by contracting the RCMP through a Municipal Police Service Agreement (MPSA) with the Government of Canada.

 

  The Municipal Police Service Agreement (MPSA) contract costs the Town $2.4 million per year.

The Town of Rocky Mountain House appreciates the hard work of the local detachment leadership, members and support staff. 

The Rocky Mountain House RCMP detachment operates as a post model detachment. This means municipal, provincial and federally assigned officers work from the same building. 

To assist the detachment in operational demands and effectiveness, the Town does not require the municipal members be solely dedicated to the Town. If required, they respond to calls out in the broader region and nearby First Nation communities.

However, due to detachment vacancies, the Town is sometimes left without police services when the positions that are filled are called to respond elsewhere.

The objective of the study is to: 

  • Explore the existing model of contracting the RCMP as the Town’s municipal police force. 
  • Explore and/or incorporate innovative, promising, or proven policing models and public safety practices. 
  • Consider community engagement focused on understanding the concerns of crime and victimization to create public safety measures and a police model that addresses those concerns. 
  • Provide the community with policing options that directly address public safety concerns/measures. 

The study will consider at least four possible policing models:

  1. The current model contracting the RCMP.
  2. The creation of a Rocky Mountain House Municipal Police Force.
  3. Contracting another municipal police force.
  4. Explore contracting Alberta Sheriffs to serve as the municipal police force.

The Town has up to $90,000 set aside for this endeavor.

 

The Town of Rocky Mountain House has been awarded $60,000 from the Alberta Indigenous/Municipal Police Transition Study Grant program. Council approved a further $30,000 towards the study as part of its 2025 budget.

The consultant will be required to engage with specific stakeholders, as well as ratepayers. There will be a public meeting in Rocky Mountain House at the early stages of the study, and additional public input opportunities. 

These opportunities will be advertised via the Town website, social media channels, utility newsletters and local media. 

Public concerns and questions raised in these meetings will be addressed in the final report. 

 

Yes. The Consultant will be required to: 

  • Present the final report to Town Council; and 
  • Conduct an open house meeting to present the final report to the public. 

Approximately 10 months. 

Town Council will decide the best path forward for the Town based on the study, its recommendations, and public feedback.

Call the Town Office during regular business hours at 403-845-2866. The Town Office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.