Close X
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
ADVT 
National

'Canada is watching': New northern Alberta police service trying to lead by example

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 04 Nov, 2024 01:54 PM
  • 'Canada is watching': New northern Alberta police service trying to lead by example

On the second floor of a building where most offices are without doors, the ceilings hang low and the carpets don't match, the chief of Grande Prairie’s new police force gets down to work.

"Don't focus on the building," Dwayne Lakusta said in a recent interview.

The 51-year-old was picked over a year ago to head up a new municipal police service in this city of 60,000 in Alberta’s northwest, replacing the RCMP. It's to be the first new force in Alberta in more than 60 years. 

With three decades of experience, Lakusta has overseen the deployment of a small group of officers working with local RCMP.

The Mounties remain in charge until the local force takes over primary jurisdiction on April 1, 2026.

Lakusta said it will take a new approach based on surveys and research done in other jurisdictions calling for police to be more responsive, particularly to youth.

The result, he said, is a "non-traditional" policing model that will deploy mobile outreach workers alongside enforcement officers. 

"It's a holistic approach toward community safety and well-being," Lakusta said.

"If it's a call for a suicide, we'll send a mental health worker instead of an officer with a gun."

Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton said the stakes are high.

"It's an opportunity for us to do something unique,” Clayton said in an interview at city hall. 

“I know a lot of Canada is watching to see how this unfolds … (the service) will build a sort of template for other municipalities that are looking to transition."

Coun. Dylan Bressey said the idea came about in 2018.

"There were conversations going on in Alberta about a provincial police service," he said.

Bressey said while debating the idea council became aware the RCMP's contracts across the country would expire in March 2032.

Clayton said council’s decision in 2023 to cancel the RCMP deal was difficult but necessary.

"There's an emotional attachment to the RCMP. It's a symbolic piece of Canada, it's history and so, change is hard," said Clayton. But she said the city was ready for a service more tailored to local needs.

Chris Thiessen was the only councillor to turn thumbs down at the vote.

"My first no vote was really just to delay and to give our public the opportunity to be more part of the discussion," Thiessen said in an interview.

And there’s the money.

"For us to be able to do a cost analysis five years from now, for instance, is tricky. We're just ballparking numbers.

"We have to do a good job showing that the services have a greater net benefit to the community, and it's worth the costs."

A recent cost analysis by the city indicates there will be savings, particularly due to lower administrative charges.

Clayton and Lakusta said a few other communities in Alberta and at least one in Nova Scotia are watching closely as they consider making the transition. 

Surrey, B.C., is moving away from the RCMP, but the transition has met resistance as its council attempted to undo a previous decision to create a new service.

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke raised concerns about how much the transition was costing taxpayers. In July, a judicial review ruled British Columbia has the authority to complete the transition from the RCMP to the local force.

Lakusta says starting a service from the grassroots in Grande Prairie has so far been beneficial because it comes with "no baggage."

"(The) only thing we can do is build trust," he said.

MORE National ARTICLES

Pickpocketing taking place in New Westminster

Pickpocketing taking place in New Westminster
Police in New Westminster are asking residents to watch out for thieves targeting coat racks near the entrances of local businesses as winter approaches. Police say suspects typically take items such as wallets and cell phones from coats left on racks.

Pickpocketing taking place in New Westminster

Fatal residential fire in North Cowichan

Fatal residential fire in North Cowichan
Mounties in North Cowichan are investigating after a residential fire resulted in a death. R-C-M-P says officers were called to the scene at around 9:30 a.m. on October 28th, which prompted responses from North Cowichan, Maple Bay, Crofton and Chemainus.

Fatal residential fire in North Cowichan

First of six units begin generating power at B.C.'s Site C dam

First of six units begin generating power at B.C.'s Site C dam
BC Hydro says the massive Site C dam project in northeastern British Columbia has started generating power. The provincial electric utility says in a statement that the first of six generating units on the Site C dam has begun operations after completing testing and commissioning procedures.

First of six units begin generating power at B.C.'s Site C dam

PM's national security adviser shared India interference allegations with counterpart

PM's national security adviser shared India interference allegations with counterpart
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's national security adviser says she shared the explosive allegations about Indian officials taking part in criminal activity in Canada with her counterpart in New Delhi before the RCMP went public with the news this month. Nathalie Drouin told the House of Commons national security committee today there was an effort to work with the Indian government to ensure accountability. 

PM's national security adviser shared India interference allegations with counterpart

Google exempt from Online News Act for five years, must pay news outlets $100M: CRTC

Google exempt from Online News Act for five years, must pay news outlets $100M: CRTC
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has granted Google a five-year exemption from the Online News Act, ordering it to release the $100 million it now owes to Canadian news outlets within 60 days. Google agreed last year to pay Canadian news publishers $100 million a year, indexed to inflation, in order to be exempt from the law, which compels tech companies to enter into agreements with news publishers to pay for content reposted on their platforms.

Google exempt from Online News Act for five years, must pay news outlets $100M: CRTC

'Nobody wants to blow up the party': Trudeau staying, despite resignation calls

'Nobody wants to blow up the party': Trudeau staying, despite resignation calls
Several Liberal MPs are calling for a secret ballot vote on Justin Trudeau's leadership after he made clear he isn't going anywhere in spite of the calls from within his caucus to step down.  Two dozen members of caucus signed a letter that gave Trudeau until Monday to respond to their demand for his resignation as party leader.

'Nobody wants to blow up the party': Trudeau staying, despite resignation calls