Alberta has seen the establishment of its first new municipal police service in 70 years as the Grande Prairie Police Service (GPPS) officially assumed law enforcement duties in Grande Prairie. The transition from the RCMP to the GPPS was commemorated with the unveiling of new signage at the GPPS headquarters, which was previously the RCMP detachment, and a ceremony in the northern Alberta city.
Chief Dwayne Lakusta of the GPPS expressed his surprise at the expedited transition, attributing the success to the support received from the city council and local RCMP. The decision to create the GPPS was made by the city council in 2023, with the service operating alongside the RCMP since 2024. Now, all police calls within city limits will be handled by the GPPS.
With the recent graduation of a new recruit class, the GPPS now boasts 80 sworn officers, maintaining a balanced mix of experienced officers and new recruits. Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Minister Mike Ellis commended the city’s commitment to community safety and announced an additional $2 million in provincial funding to support the transition, bringing the total provincial contribution to approximately $19 million.
Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton estimated the total transition cost to be around $23 million and emphasized the importance of local oversight and input in finding solutions to local issues. The establishment of the Grande Prairie Police Commission in 2023 has paved the way for community involvement in the new municipal police service.
Criminology expert Kelly Sundberg highlighted Grande Prairie’s transition as a potential model for other municipalities, emphasizing the need for law enforcement strategies to evolve with the growth of communities. He anticipates that the push for a provincial police service in Alberta will lead to more communities opting to police themselves, following the example set by Grande Prairie.
