Government mail service may be affected by the Canada Post labour disruption. Learn about how critical government mail will be handled.
Overview
We gathered perspectives from stakeholders to understand the potential challenges and opportunities of expanding the roles of approximately 400 provincial peace officers, including fish and wildlife officers and members of the Sheriff Highway Patrol, to enable them to respond to a wider range of calls.
This engagement helped us develop the Rural Alberta Provincial Integrated Defence (RAPID) Response implementation plan and identified ways we can continue to collaborate with stakeholders and rural communities.
By expanding the roles of these officers, we will help reduce response times and combat rural crime by:
- reinforcing the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)’s response to emergencies and high-priority calls
- allowing the RCMP to focus more on rural crime
- increasing the visible presence of law enforcement
Stakeholder engagement
Government officials met with stakeholders in the fall of 2020 and early 2021, including:
- municipal and Indigenous governments
- Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police (AACP)
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
- Alberta Association of Community Police Officers
- Alberta Conservation Association (ACA)
- Alberta Provincial Rural Crime Watch Association (APRCWA)
- emergency response partners
Outcomes
Fish and Wildlife officers began RAPID Response functions on April 1, 2021.
Sheriff Highway Patrol assumed RAPID Response duties on July 1, 2021.
RAPID Response currently covers most areas of rural Alberta policed by the RCMP.