By Shaun Penner

Rural RCMP Detachment

County, RCMP exploring potential establishment of Clairmont detachment

Dec 14, 2020 | 6:09 PM

The County of Grande Prairie says it and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are exploring a potential partnership that could see an RCMP Detachment established in Clairmont.

At Monday’s Council meeting, Council voted in favour of establishing a “Rural Policing Planning Committee” made up of select Councillors, County staff, and the RCMP that would look at the future of policing in the County. The discussion arose as the Hamlet of Clairmont nears a population of 5,000, which means the County will be required to fund RCMP resources for the community and provide a detachment in the near future.

The County expects the next municipal census, in 2021, will see the population reach that level.

“Bringing rural enforcement together in a rurally-located Detachment is a smart model for policing as the region grows,” said Reeve Leanne Beaupre. “It supports more efficient planning and better response times to rural communities in the County and the region.”

The County has written a letter to the RCMP, expressing its interest in constructing a municipal building that is dedicated to law enforcement, bringing area services under one roof.

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Those desires would see RCMP serving the east County, MD of Greenview and Sexsmith operating out of Clairmont rather than the Grande Prairie RCMP detachment, as well as bring County Regional Enforcement Services under the same roof.

Operations at the Beaverlodge detachment would be unchanged, with officers there continuing to serve the west County.

“This rurally-located detachment that is being proposed will improve the RCMP’s response times in the County and will enhance coordination amongst the rural specialized RCMP units,” said Inspector Edward Moreland, Acting Officer in Charge of Alberta RCMP Operational Strategy Branch. “The Alberta RCMP is committed to providing a high quality, efficient and responsive service to Albertans.”

Beaupre adds the RCMP lease would cover some of the costs of a new facility.