Municipal police force in Grande Prairie almost halfway to officer recruitment goal

Grande Prairie Police Service Chief Dwayne in his office in Grande Prairie, Alta., Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fakiha Baig

GRANDE PRAIRIE — A northern Alberta city replacing the RCMP with its own municipal police force says it is nearly halfway to its officer recruitment target.

Chief Dwayne Lakusta from the Grande Prairie Police Service says 50 officers have been hired since the transition began in 2023 and the service’s goal is to reach 110.

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The Alberta government is providing the force with an additional $7 million, bringing the province’s overall contribution to nearly $17 million.

The government says the full estimated cost of the transition is $19 million.

Lakusta says he’s grateful for the additional funding, which will be used to purchase vehicles, a records management system and other necessary software technology.

He says the new force is on track to be fully established by next fall.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 27, 2025.

The Canadian Press