Should Provincial Officers Help Police Rural Alberta?

Official title: RAPID Response engagement

Closed Policy & Studies Justice & Rights
Alberta asked stakeholders whether fish and wildlife officers and sheriff highway patrol should respond to a wider range of emergency calls. The goal was to reduce response times in rural areas where RCMP coverage is stretched thin. This consultation has ended—the program launched in 2021.

Why This Matters

Live in rural Alberta? This affects how quickly help arrives when you call 911. Before this program, you might wait longer for RCMP officers driving from distant detachments. Now, fish and wildlife officers or sheriffs already in your area can respond to emergencies.

What Could Change

This program is already in effect. About 400 provincial peace officers now respond to emergencies and high-priority calls across rural Alberta. Fish and wildlife officers started in April 2021, and sheriff highway patrol joined in July 2021. The RCMP can now focus more on investigating rural crime.

Key Issues

  • Should fish and wildlife officers respond to emergency calls beyond their traditional duties?
  • Should sheriff highway patrol take on broader law enforcement roles?
  • How can provincial officers best support RCMP in rural areas?

What Happened

The consultation led to the RAPID Response implementation plan. Fish and wildlife officers began expanded duties on April 1, 2021, and sheriff highway patrol assumed RAPID Response duties on July 1, 2021. The program now covers most rural Alberta areas policed by the RCMP.

Key Documents