The Town of Strathmore is looking for volunteers to serve as a liaison between town council, the local RCMP detachment, and the town's citizens.
On Thursday (Sept. 11), the town shared a link to their Municipal Policing Committee page, asking interested residents to apply for the positions.
The committee will include one member of council and four members of the public, with one of those public positions available for a youth representative. All four public member positions are still open.
According to the town, the duties and responsibilities of the committee members include:
- Overseeing the agreement between the Town and the Government of Canada for the services of the RCMP;
- Representing the interests and concerns of the public and of council to the officer in charge;
- Developing a yearly plan of priorities and strategies for municipal policing in consultation with the Officer In Charge;
- Developing a community safety plan in conjunction with the local RCMP detachment and chief elected official, including a plan for collaboration between the community and community agencies, and providing the community safety plan annually, or on request to the Minister;
- Assisting in the selection of the officer in charge;
- Reporting annually, or on request, to the Minister on the implementation of and updates to the programs and services to achieve the priorities of the RCMP.
Those in the committee will also have the power to appoint a public complaint director.
The committee would hold at least four meetings a year, with members being appointed to terms of up to three years.
Interested applicants will need to pass an enhanced criminal record review and suitability screening before taking the oath of office.
Those who work with the Town of Strathmore, RCMP, or the Department of the Solicitor General of Alberta are not eligible to join the committee.
The town was required to create the committee after the Alberta Government passed the Police Amendment Act in 2022.