Red Deer city council tables Police Review

Currently, the City and RCMP work collaboratively to provide policing services in Red Deer. The Red Deer RCMP Detachment under contract to the City, has budgeted for 171 members who perform core policing services.

RCMP employees at the City are complemented with nearly 100 City employees who perform a range of duties, including traffic and bylaw enforcement, public services, policing support and records management, dispatch of non-emergency calls, and crime analytics.

City officials say operating expenses for Policing Services in 2018 were approximately $36 million. Between April 2017 and March 2019, total RCMP costs borne by the City grew from $19.6 million to $24.7 million. Increases in the number of RCMP members are said to account for the largest portion of that increase.

The review found that Red Deer’s policing costs are comparable to other similar sized cities. It also found City Mounties have higher caseloads per full-time equivalent employees.

The review identified four considerations that may impact the options outlined in the report, such as changing environmental factors, a review of the Police Act, the recent unionization of the RCMP and changes in Police Governance Practices.

Another major consideration for council is an announcement by the UCP government this month that it will explore through the Fair Deal Panel the potential for establishing a provincial police service.

Key factors for council to consider include governance and oversight, operating and capital costs, and operations management.

The City, through a Police Commission could have greater control over operational priorities by establishing a municipal force. However, an MPS would also significantly increase risk and liability to the City.

The RCMP model allows for better sharing of services and assets but comes with somewhat less flexibility in determining how services are delivered. Establishing an MPS would increase ongoing operating costs and require significant one-time funding, as well as losing the current 10 per cent federal subsidy for RCMP services.

The RCMP also enables greater access to specialized units, training and additional resources, but has more restrictions on exploring operational effectiveness than an MPS, which would have more ability to affect the level of service delivered to residents.

It is estimated total ongoing operating costs for policing services would increase by approximately 17 per cent if the City moves to a municipal police force. One-time transition costs are estimated at $12 million, consisting of capital costs of $5.8 million and $6.2 million in operating costs, with the transition itself taking between two to four years. RCMP would require up to two years’ notice for contract termination.

City officials say the operating budget impact of an MPS, based on the cost estimates provided and assuming equipment would be debt-financed, would result in a property tax increase of roughly 5.8 per cent.

In terms of the Capital Budget impact, capital plan funding sources are already fully allocated, meaning that introducing this new capital cost would require either removing an equivalent amount of capital costs, or increasing the debt limit Transition Cost impact.

The Policing Review – funded to a maximum of up to $200,000 was developed with extensive consultation and engagement from both internal and external stakeholders.

Overall, it indicates policing services would likely cost materially more with a municipal force. However, the final difference would be determined by designing and costing the desired operating model. This would include determining the required resourcing to “right size” the MPS to The City’s needs.

Council is now tasked with choosing between two options:

1. Continue with the RCMP contract and implement service improvements requiring public participation to help determine those improvements, then develop a Service Improvements Implementation Plan. Or,

2. Transition to an MPS, with those next steps to include undertaking public participation to support design of the Municipal Police Service, and develop a transition plan before giving notice to the RCMP.

Red Deer RCMP Superintendent Gerald Grobmeier says the Police Review process gives them a chance to look at things differently and find ways of being more responsive.

“We just have to make sure that whatever we do, that it’s evidence-based and there is some real purpose behind it,” he explains. “I have no problems tracking our resources, but let’s make sure that it relates to reducing crime and making the city safer.”

Grobmeier adds it’s important to keep in mind the review is a snapshot in time.

“Some of the recommendations that are being made, (for example) working more collaboratively, we’re doing that with the Systems Leadership Team (SLT). Perhaps being more innovative, well we’re a leader in intelligence-led policing in crime reduction strategies. That’s something that our citizens should take to heart, that we are a progressive and innovative police force.”

Mayor Tara Veer says the Police Review is to ultimately help ensure residents are receiving the best possible service, adding it can now be reviewed by members of the public to offer their feedback.

“Obviously, this is a significant decision for us and it’s imperative that we hear the thoughts and perspectives of our community,” she says. “But also, there was a lot of information that council had felt that we need in order to make a decision and just making sure that the information that we have is what we need to make that decision. So it will come back to us early in the New Year and we’ll render a decision at that time.”

by Sheldon Spackman

Red Deer city council tables Police Review

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