Skip to content

Letter: Policing future a very complex issue

Replacing RCMP cannot, and should not, be decided by a plebiscite or congenial town hall meetings, says letter writer
opinion

Re: Letter: Forming Alberta police force will be a mistake

The formation of a new and vibrant Alberta provincial police service versus an old, tired federal force (RCMP) is a very complex issue.

It cannot, and should not, be decided by a plebiscite or congenial town hall meetings. 

For example, statistics relating to solved crimes on a per capita basis, comparing federal to provincial policing agencies such as the Calgary Police Service, have to be meticulously calculated before a decision is made. 

Subsequent to nearly 40 years of active municipal, provincial and federal law enforcement duty in six regions of Alberta, I have been exposed to a great deal of the pros and cons of this dilemma. 

One thing I am cognizant of, however, is that a fully efficient policing service cannot function properly with a headquarters some 4,000 kilometres away.

Murray Bates,

Mountain View County

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks