TAMRMS#: B06
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RCMP - Request for Policing Increase
Presented by: Aaron Giesbrecht, Manager
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RECOMMENDATION(S)
recommendation
That in accordance with Article 5 of the Municipal Police Service Agreement, the Mayor be authorized to formally request the Federal Government to increase the RCMP authorized complement of the St. Albert RCMP Detachment by one (1) additional member for a total of seventy (70) members.
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PURPOSE OF REPORT
Past practice has been that a formal resolution of Council be passed for the Mayor to request that RCMP positions be added to the “authorized strength”, in accordance with the Municipal Police Service Agreement.
COUNCIL DIRECTION
N/A
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
In order to put forward the formal request to the Federal Government to increase the RCMP complement assigned to St. Albert, a formal resolution of Council is required. While Administration is seeking to increase the complement ask to a total of 70, this is being done as a strategy to work towards obtaining the actual number of RCMP members that we desire to provide policing service to the community, this being 64 for 2018. This over ask allows for a vacancy rate of about 8.6% of the authorized strength.
The City has historically worked through the local Detachment Commander, as well as through the Divisional heads of the RCMP, to improve the “fill rate” of the RCMP complement but had limited success. There are a number of logistical challenges that conspire to limit the likelihood of the St. Albert RCMP Detachment ever operating with an exact match of the Authorized Strength and Actual Strength resulting in some level of vacancy. This vacancy rate is a result of things such as short-term disability, maternity leave, and the gaps when an officer gets transferred out to when a replacement arrives and the RCMP simply not having enough officers to fill all of the approved positions at any given time.
As the past practice of asking only for what Administration has desired has not worked for the City, Administration has employed a strategy of over asking, thereby increasing the City’s odds to match the “fill rate” to the desired officer level. The intent of this strategy is that while Administration would ask for 70 RCMP officers, Administration operates to the approved budget number currently at 64 for 2018. It would be expected that given the historical vacancy of RCMP officers and the Detachment Commander’s ability to manage the incoming placements, Administration would have a better opportunity to obtain and manage the desired number of RCMP members.
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
The St Albert Policing Committee was established in January of this year and have been delegated some authority by Council on Policing Matters, primarily working with the RCMP on Annual Policing Priorities. Since the Policing Committee does not have authority to increase or decrease RCMP resources under the Municipal Police Service Agreement, their involvement has been limited to being informed about this request.
This strategy and recommendation is in line with the Policing Long Term Department Plan. Appropriate stakeholder communications and engagement was completed during that process.
IMPLICATIONS OF RECOMMENDATION(S)
Financial:
There are no financial implications beyond what is included within the approved budget, as the strategy is to work to the budget. The 2018 operational budget includes a budget allowance for 64 RCMP members. In the unlikely event that the RCMP fills to the authorized strength and/or bills over the allocated 2018 operating budget, Council has $918,600 (as of March 31, 2018) set aside in the RCMP Contract Expense Reserve to draw from.
Legal / Risk:
Under the Municipal Police Service Agreement, the RCMP can legally fill RCMP members to the “authorized” number. If this were to occur, the City would be legally responsible for the policing costs. Having said this, Administration believes that the risk of this occurring is extremely low, due to historical patterns as well as through discussions and an understanding with the local RCMP Detachment Commander.
Program or Service:
Increasing the authorized RCMP officer strength allows for the City to be able to fill RCMP officers to the desired budgeted number; which will have a positive impact on maintaining Policing Services.
Organizational:
As more RCMP officers are approved, there grows a greater need to ensure appropriate building accommodations are provided to the RCMP, as per the Municipal Police Service Agreement.
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
If Council does not wish to support the recommendation, below are some alternatives that could be considered:
a) That the agenda report, RCMP - Request for Policing Increase be received as information.
If this option were selected, Administration would consider this matter closed and no new resource requests will be submitted to the Federal Government. It must be noted that a risk to this alternative is that it will impact the local Detachment Commanders ability to fill RCMP positions to the City’s desired budget number.
b) That the agenda report, RCMP Request for Policing Increase, be referred back to Administration or St Albert Policing Committee for further research that is to be guided by the general discussion that was had by Council.
If this option were selected, Administration would conduct further research and/or bring the matter to the Policing Committee for review and recommendations in the areas that Council had discussed and would come back with a report on the findings.
STRATEGIC CONNECTIONS
a) Council’s Strategic Plan (2018-2021)
• N/A
b) St Albert’s Community Vision (2017)
• Social Pillar - “We live and share our small-town values by being a friendly, peaceful, supportive and safe community”
c) Long Term Plans (e.g. MDP, Social Master Plan, Cultural Master Plan, etc.)
• Policing Services Long Term Department Plan (2014)
d) Corporate Business Plan (2018-2021)
• N/A
e) Council Policies
• Council Policy on Policing Services (C-PS-02)
“The City is Committed to ensuring that residents live in one of the safest communities in Canada”
“The City believes that Policing plays a vital role in community safety”
“The City believes that providing and maintaining appropriate resources allocations towards policing is required in order to ensure that St. Albert continues to be a safe community.”
f) Other Plans or Initiatives (Business Plans, Implementation Strategies, etc.)
• N/A
Report Date: June 25, 2018
Author(s): Aaron Giesbrecht
Committee/Department: Policing Services
Acting General Manager: Diane Enger
City Manager: Kevin Scoble