Photo by Curtis Galbraith.

By Curtis Galbraith

Municipal Police Force

First Chief of Police appointed for Grande Prairie Police Service

Jul 11, 2023 | 6:00 AM

The Grande Prairie Police Service has its first Chief of Police.

The appointment of Dwayne Lakusta was ratified by council at Monday’s meeting.

Lakusta started with the Edmonton Police Service in November of 1995. He worked in areas like drug undercover, organized crime and homicide. He also worked with the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT).

Mayor Jackie Clayton says he brings what she calls ‘exceptional experience’ to the role.

“He really brings a level of expertise as well as legitimizing the service in regards to what our expectations and our needs (are) in our community.”

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“This appointing of a police chief and ratifying it on behalf of council marks another major milestone in the transition.”

Clayton says Lakusta’s experience in areas that are crime problems for Grande Prairie went into the decision to appoint him Chief of Police.

“His history speaks for itself and, as council made the decision to transition from (the) RCMP to a municipal police service, we looked at where local solutions are fixing local issues.”

Lakusta will start as Chief of Police in Grande Prairie on August 28.

Clayton says the first members of the municipal police service will be hired this year as well.

“Once the police chief is settled in Grande Prairie, he will start to recruit members and put the systems in place for the transition as the increase of municipal police service escalates (along with) the de-escalation of RCMP members.”

Clayton says the transition to the Grande Prairie Police Service from the RCMP should be completed in 2028.