Changes to RCMP Auxiliary System
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association advocate to the Solicitor General of Alberta to support the continuance of the auxiliary constable program.
WHEREAS across the country, 10 of 14 provinces/territories are serviced by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and an auxiliary constable program comprised of over 1,600 Auxiliaries across Canada;
WHEREAS based on these conservative estimates, $17.7 million will need to be allocated to replacement members if the auxiliary program is changed/eliminated, resulting in a download to municipalities;
WHEREAS auxiliary constables are trained to a high level to mitigate risks, and desire to work with the national RCMP to respond to and to mitigate the risks identified versus seeing the program reduced in scope;
WHEREAS auxiliary RCMP members are similar to municipal Peace Officers, who are unarmed community policing members that are enabled to respond to many municipal enforcement matters;
WHEREAS changes to the auxiliary program have been introduced which propose to remove the Peace Officer status;
WHEREAS without assistance from the auxiliary constables, municipalities could see an increased demands on the RCMP and related budgetary requirements.
Auxiliary constables are community members that are able to provide neighborhood and community insights and assist in peak periods as a second member in a police car, which helps to reduce crime. They help to bring RCMP and the community together and provide Peace Officer services to events such as Canada Day, bike rodeos, safety talks and events anywhere in the province where there are RCMP. They also provide key supports to events such as floods, fires, and tornados.
Each auxiliary constable gives at minimum 160 hours a year, which equates to 256,000 hours and is equivalent to an additional 127 members across the country. Across the province there are over 300 auxiliary constables with each member contributing a minimum of 160 hours per year for a minimum contribution of 52,000 provincial with minimal cost to the taxpayers. For example, in Red Deer, there are 14 current auxiliary constables contributing a minimum of 160 hours per year and many contributing up to 400 hours per year.
Changes to the auxiliary program have been introduced which propose to remove the Peace Officer status and focus on non-enforcement duties such as attending community events and assisting in training.