Highway patrols to be integrated
Drivers have yet another reason not to flaunt speed limits and seatbelts.
Not only will the RCMP be in the rear-view mirror, lights flashing, but they could very well be joined by their new colleagues in the Sheriff Highway Patrol.
The provincial government announced the integration of their sheriffs and the RCMP’s traffic services on Monday.
Over the next two years, traffic sheriffs currently reporting to the province will come under the day-to-day command of the RCMP in 19 new traffic enforcement units in the province.
Right now, there are 178 RCMP officers working in traffic services at 36 locations in the province. There are 107 traffic sheriffs working at nine locations in the province.
All will soon work out of the same 19 spots, which include Red Deer, Ponoka and Innisfail.
“Some people may say ‘well, you know, I had RCMP officers here and now I don’t.’ Basically the whole province will still have traffic enforcement coverage, it’s just where the (units) are located out of,” said Eilish Lemieux, spokeswoman for the Solicitor General and Public Security.
Neither the RCMP nor the sheriffs will have their staffing numbers change, Lemieux said.
“There may in fact be some shifting around, but we are led to believe and have faith ... that communities will not lose policing services,” said Cpl. Wayne Oakes, media liaison for the RCMP in Alberta.
“It is envisioned because of the efficiencies that will be appreciated through the integration, that locations will likely see an enhancement to their current level of traffic services.”
Oakes explained those “efficiencies” as follows: in the past, it’s happened that one agency has held a traffic blitz in one area on a Monday, and then on the following Wednesday another agency does a redundant blitz in the exact same place.
Oakes also said the change “enhances our role” to deal with criminal matters.
The integration comes about after the completion of four six-month pilot programs last year. In Whitecourt, the sheriffs and RCMP were given equal responsibilities. In Airdrie, sergeants reported to managers in their respective agencies.
And in Olds, sheriffs were used just to enforce traffic safety. In Wetaskiwin, the winning model, traffic operations were overseen by an RCMP supervisor.
The sheriffs — armed peace officers who can enforce provincial legislation like the Traffic Safety Act — were formed in 2006.
mgauk@reddeeradvocate.com
COMMENTS
Let's keep comments:
We ask that all participants own their words by logging in with their Facebook account. It's a simple process that will take seconds and helps keep our comments free of trolls, cranks, and “drive-by” commenters.
We reserve the right to remove comments from anyone using screen names, pseudonyms or false identities. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.