The Alberta government is prepared to give the city of Grande Prairie $9.7 million over two years to create and fund its own community-led municipal police force in the upcoming budget, if the city decides to move forward with a local policing option.
In a Feb. 22 news release, the province said Budget 2023 would allow Grande Prairie, and other municipalities who are interested, to access money to offset start-up costs such as equipment, uniforms, vehicles, and information technology.
Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis, who served 12 years with the Calgary Police Service as a constable and then patrol sergeant, posted on Twitter Feb. 22, that “community driven and focused policing can increase the number of frontline officers, reduce response times and allow the municipality to set the priorities for their regional service.”…