A Red Deer policing committee is making a comeback.
Changes to the province's Police Act passed in late 2022 mean communities over 15,000 that have an RCMP contract must have a policing committee.
The government said the move was the first major reform to the act in more than 30 years and is designed to boost police accountability and enhance public confidence while giving communities a bigger role in setting policing priorities and performance goals.
A report going to city council on Monday says that while the city has entered into policing service agreements with the RCMP "no entity has been formally established for the purpose of direct oversight or governance over the RCMP."
Those sitting on the revived seven-member committee will be expected to oversee the municipal police service agreement, represent the interests of the public and council to the detachment commander and develop a yearly priority and strategy plan. The committee's work will also involve developing a community safety plan and updates to programs and services and present them when asked to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services.
Committee members will also assist in selecting the officer in charge of the detachment.
City administration is recommending a seven-person committee with five members of the public and two councillors. One citizen with experience in leadership and dedication to public safety should be Indigenous, a newcomer to Canada or be from a marginalized population. The Public Safety minister reserves the right to appoint up to three of the members.
It is proposed Red Deer RCMP Supt. Holly Glassford be a non-voting member, along with Municipal Policing Services Manager and the Safe and Healthy Communities manager.
The public positions will be voluntary and unpaid, although the province may require a per diem be paid for attending meetings. Travel and training costs are projected to cost $10,000 per year, plus $5,000 for administrative support and supplies
Once council has approved the establishment of a policing committee it could take three to four months to fill out its members and then a chair and vice-chair will be selected and the committee's policies and procedures established. Members must pass a security check, which can take months depending on the detail required.
A policing committee is not new to Red Deer. One had been in place from the 1980s to the early 2000s before disbanding.
