Red Deer Police Review: City Council asks for more information, including transition plan information from other cities

From The City of Red Deer

City Council tables Police Review

At today’s Special Council Meeting, City Council heard the Police Review report.

City Council directed to table the report to receive more information from Administration and to invite public feedback. Administration will bring back the report, with additional information, to City Council for discussion in the first quarter of 2020.

City Council requested more information on

collision centres,
auxiliary policing,
enhanced authority of Community Peace Officers,
crime mapping,
existing levels of service as outlined in the Annual Policing Plan,
deployment of officers
and use of technology (voice recorders).
Council also requested more information about salary comparators between municipal police services and the RCMP and the projected salary increases for the RCMP under unionization,
as well as transition plan information from other municipalities.
Maclean’s Most Dangerous Cities rankings from the past ten years will also be provided to Council as requested.

“Community safety is our number one priority and policing is a significant component of ensuring public safety,” said Mayor Tara Veer. “This is one of the most significant decisions City Council will make this term and the decision will not be made lightly. Today we directed Administration to bring additional information in Q1 of 2020 to inform Council’s decision, and it is imperative to allow time for public feedback.”

In November 2018, City Council directed Administration to undertake an independent review of policing services in Red Deer. The review is comprised of two parts, a Governance Review that identifies the opportunities and challenges with various policing operating models, as well as a Service Review with recommendations on enhancing services with the existing RCMP contract.

As part of the Service Review, Red Deer was compared to other cities with either RCMP contracts or their own municipal police service. The report shows that the cost of policing in Red Deer is comparable to other similar sized cities, while the Red Deer detachment has higher caseloads per full time equivalent employee.

The budget for the Police Review was approved at $200,000.

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Duane Rolheiser

After 15 years as a TV reporter with Global and CBC and as news director of RDTV in Red Deer, Duane set out on his own 2008 as a visual storyteller. During this period, he became fascinated with a burgeoning online world and how it could better serve local communities. This fascination led to Todayville, launched in 2016.

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2024 City Councilor By-Election

Get to know your candidates for city council: Calvin Yzerman

Published on April 14, 2024

City of Red Deer

From elections.reddeer.ca

About the Candidate

I know Red Deer. I have lived here since 1961. This by-election is a somber occasion for myself and many others in our community as we have lost an irreplaceable community friend and Councillor. Red Deer has been good to our family and has a lot going for it. Our choice location in Central Alberta along the Queen Elizabeth II Highway makes Red Deer an ideal hub to service the rest of Alberta and Western Canada. The Regional Airport is a short drive away. Thank you for taking the time to vote.

Candidate Priorities

Housing and Homelessness	I am hopeful that all levels of Government can come together to solve this urgent problem. Non-profits, and private-sector housing providers can also play a role in developing innovative and sustainable affordable housing projects.
Crime Prevention and Policing	Everyone wants a safe community and crime prevention is a top concern. I support Red Deer’s Annual Policing Plan. I was recently reminded by members of the Social Diversion Team to call 403-406-2200 if you see someone need of non-emergency support.
Infrastructure and Utilities	Infrastructure and Utilities is one of those areas that City residents rely upon everyday. I feel that the City of Red Deer has a strong Strategic Plan in place to address new and aging infrastructure. Spring road repairs could improve.
Public Transit	I feel that The City of Red Deer Transit Network Improvements Project was well designed to address transit service in Red Deer. I also support a modern safe high speed train connection between Alberta’s major Cities.
Restoration of Red Deer EMS Dispatch	Our local Red Deer EMS Dispatch model was top notch and service suffered greatly when the Province consolidated EMS dispatch. I would strongly urge the Province to restore EMS dispatch to its former model.

Contact Information

[email protected]

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* Candidate profiles are published as submitted. Please note: The City does not operate, review, endorse or approve any external site listed here and is not responsible or liable for any damages arising from linking to or using these sites.

Red Deer voters will have many opportunities to cast their ballot in this By-Election. Advance Vote will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. from April 18 to 20. Voters will be able to select one of three Advance Vote locations at Parkland Mall, Baymont by Wyndham Red Deer or Westerner Park. The same voting stations will be open for voters from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on By-Election Day, April 22.

Information about the By-Election, including details about where to vote, who is running and how to vote is available on the Elections website at elections.reddeer.ca.