Why this Alberta city’s transition away from the RCMP is so different from the bitter political fight in Surrey – Prince George Post

May 02, 2024

Grande Prairie’s move to a municipal police force is not facing same hard political fight as it is in Surrey. Here’s why.

When Grande Prairie’s new municipal police chief, Dwayne Lakusta, was sworn in last week, Mayor Jackie Clayton called it a momentous day for the city.

A five-day hearing of the City of Surrey’s petition to overturn a B.C. government decision to force the continued transition to a municipal force in place of the RCMP began Monday in B.C. Supreme Court.

While there has been some opposition to the move to replace the RCMP in Grande Prairie, including a debate over whether residents were properly consulted, the transition to a new 104-member police force has so far been a lot less bumpy than in Surrey. About 30 new municipal officers are expected to be in place this year with a completion date set for 2027.

Clayton says a huge amount of research was done before making the decision in March last year.

Read More: https://www.princegeorgepost.com/news/local-news/grande-prairie-rcmp-transition-surrey-police