Alberta renews Contract with RCMP for another 20yrs.

[Donkey Oatey]

I hadn't heard about this but my buddy with the Sheriff's dept. told me about it. Another 20yrs of the RCMP. Thanks Stelmach for signing and running away.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Al...693/story.html

Not sure what I feel about this? Seems the RCMP is a bit tarnished. Could we have done better with our own Police Force?

[dale7637]

Absolute best decision Alberta could make. As far as I am concerned they should have signed a 50 year. I have nothing but he utmost respect for the RCMP. Tarnished??? By what, a couple of bad apples? What about the 20,000 or so other members that are doing something positive? Find me a police force that will do a better job. Who would that be?

[eastcoast]

I am in favour of a provincial police force, it would be cheaper and the same quality, ontario and quebec do it.

[TreeGuy]

Donkey, with the upcoming of a Conservative majority and the nixing of the manditory bilingual requirement the rcmp has nowhere to go but UP. Re-uping was probably a wise move.

[horsetrader]

Originally Posted by eastcoast

I am in favour of a provincial police force, it would be cheaper and the same quality, ontario and quebec do it.

Can't see were it would be cheaper if you have provincial police Alberta pays 100% if you use RCMP Alberta pays 70% and Federal pays 30%

[Cattle Dog]

come on, horsetrader: you know that alberta gets hosed billions that goes down east, then they send us back a little bit.

think there was a study a few years ago that said that an alberta police force would be cheaper. shame on stelmach. hope we can vote out the alberta conservative party, and get in wildrose.

Mind you, i did donate to the lobby trying to keep the rcmp dress code the same for all,
but the eastern liberals said that religious gear like a turbine on the head would be allowed (probably along with a hidden curved knife). how sad.

[horsetrader]

Originally Posted by Cattle Dog

come on, horsetrader: you know that alberta gets hosed billions that goes down east, then they send us back a little bit.

think there was a study a few years ago that said that an alberta police force would be cheaper. shame on stelmach. hope we can vote out the alberta conservative party, and get in wildrose.

Mind you, i did donate to the lobby trying to keep the rcmp dress code the same for all,
but the eastern liberals said that religious gear like a turbine on the head would be allowed (probably along with a hidden curved knife). how sad.

Not sure i agree with every thing but will stand by you when it comes to the RCMP dress code should never have been changed. If you can't wear the uniform the way it is DON't sign up

[Rockymtnx]

Originally Posted by horsetrader

Can't see were it would be cheaper if you have provincial police Alberta pays 100% if you use RCMP Alberta pays 70% and Federal pays 30%

Don't forget the costs of starting a police program, training, buildings, equipment.
The RCMP has some of the best picking of members, training, and operations of any police force.
I think it was a good choice to re-sign too.

[Jwood 456]

Originally Posted by dale7637

I have nothing but he utmost respect for the RCMP. Tarnished??? By what, a couple of bad apples? What about the 20,000 or so other members that are doing something positive?

I agree that most of our RCMP officers are great and motivated people. Most of the F and W officers I have encountered while fishing, were very pleasant and good natured and even made alot of friendly conversation with me. I also agree that the very few sour grapes out of thousands of the RCMP members seem to poorly represent the rest of the task force made up of great natured people.

[ctd]

Just look at the number if incidents of the City Police Forces we have in Alberta already. Providing a Provincial Police Force is not as easy as it seems.

The OPP and QPP both are very questionable in their dealings. Not to say they do not provide a good service. But the way they do things sometimes leaves things to be desired.
I would love for Alberta to have a it's own Police Force, but the infrastruture we would need to put in place would far outweigh the costs associated with employing the RCMP for Provincial services.
Plus I think keeping the RCMP here means that we maintain some protection from the Goverment getting to greedy.
The Alberta Sheriffs is a fine example of a Provincially run program that could have gone much worse had they not had someone their (RCMP) to guide them along.

[ex811]

RCMP Dress Code was changed in the 80's to allow turbans. The way I remember it, the fellow who initated the change was only a Member long enough to usher in the change, then left the Force. Probably planted by his community to change our culture to reflect their own...
Around the same time the Military was having a similar situation. Dress code's were changed/altered to accomodate the new turban (in English and French). The candidate in this particular case was in the Artillery...one or two 105's blasten off around him and OFF comes the turban, ON goes the ear defenders and helmet.
As for the RCMP here in AB, I say bring on the Sheriff's. You'll get AB guys and gals who want to be here and understand AB and Albertans.

[Lefty-Canuck]

I had an RCMP Officer who used to rent my basement from me. She was concerned with the development of a sheriff force in Alberta that once it was started it was poised to replace the RCMP. Clearly this renewal proves that thoery incorrect.

Lefty

[Matt L.]

Hell, i was at the bar tonight in line to get in at the door, met two very nice RCMP officers there who took the time to stop and say hi. Got nothing against them at all.

[FishingMOM]

Yes ontario has the OPP.
Many communities have their own police service. Many more have given up their police service in lieu of having the OPP cover them at a lower price.
There isnt the same connection between the citizens and the OPP as there was between the citizens and town cops.

There the RCMP are stictly Federal.
They don't deal with speeders, or any other petty stuff like they do here.
Infact growing up our interaction with the RCMP was limited to Parades and other similar functions.
They were there for the more serious stuff. Drug smuggling and such.

Now the cost of setting up an Alberta Police Service is huge. I dont believe public wants to get into those costs.

The RCMP is FULL of upstanding members. However it seems the media and some members of this group seem to love to trash the RCMP.

Every group has bad apples. It doesnt mean the whole group is bad.

So lets give the RCMP the kudos they deserve instead of ripping them apart on a near daily basis.

[Lonnie]

RCMP should be more police than traffic cops & meter maids and that is what most of them seem to be as for the bad apples that can mostly be traced right back to basic training, they have always had the odd bad one but the last 15 years or so it seems they are getting worse attitudes & a lot of incidents that show poor judgement by commanding officers and poor training to regular officers over all not a bad police force but sure could use a good shake up especially at the top.

[mtylerb]

Out of the whole article, this was my favourite part:

The government said the new contract also includes provisions ensuring the RCMP’s goals and priorities are set by the province.

[FCLightning]

Originally Posted by FishingMOM

The RCMP is FULL of upstanding members. However it seems the media and some members of this group seem to love to trash the RCMP.

Don't worry, if we had a provincial police force they would be just as happy ripping on them.

[duffy4]

The government said the new contract also includes provisions ensuring the RCMP’s goals and priorities are set by the province.

I don't see how that can work. The RCMP are "controlled" by their headquarters in Ottawa. They are now in charge of canadian gun control enforcement.

Think about the term "Police State". Having a federal police force "in charge" in Alberta is a good way to keep westerners in line.

I have nothing against any individual officers or the way the force does its job of law enforcement. It is the federal "connection" I don't like.

[ctd]

What happens for a RCMP contract is we get x amount of Police for Federal Jurisdiction already mandated by the Federal Goverment. Every Province has them.
Then We ask the RCMP to provide x amount more Officers based on what we are willing to pay for. These Officers provide Provincial services such as petty crimes, speed enforcement and the list goes on.

[mtylerb]

Originally Posted by FCLightning

Don't worry, if we had a provincial police force they would be just as happy ripping on them.

It's not so much the force or the people employed by the RCMP, it's more their connection, running and defence of the gun registry that has garnered so much hatred. That along with their liberal federal mandate doesn't invite much love from a province that is heavily conservative and is home to many many gun owners.

[BANG]

worst decision ever

[greylynx]

Originally Posted by mtylerb

It's not so much the force or the people employed by the RCMP, it's more their connection, running and defence of the gun registry that has garnered so much hatred. That along with their liberal federal mandate doesn't invite much love from a province that is heavily conservative and is home to many many gun owners.

Excellent post Tyler. The entire upper echelon of the RCMP are liberals and Quebec liberals.

Heaven help the RCMP person from western Canada who is in the CFL program no matter how good they are. (CFL = Constable For Life).

[Nomad]

I support a provincial police force. We had one from 1917 to 1932 and they were more liked and respected than the RNWMP(according to my grand parents). The less meddling by the federal government in my life the better. Here are some good reasons for it;


http://www.albertaagenda.ca/police.htm

[ctd]

If Alberta cancelled their contract with the RCMP for Provincial Services. Who do think the Alberta Police Services would be Hiring? All the unemployed RCMP Officers who would stay in Alberta to work here.

[TreeGuy]

Originally Posted by greylynx

Excellent post Tyler. The entire upper echelon of the RCMP are liberals and Quebec liberals.

Heaven help the RCMP person from western Canada who is in the CFL program no matter how good they are. (CFL = Constable For Life).

GL, we have a 'CFL' on the block. Difference being that it stands for the 'Crazy French Lady' who has been so open about her 'crush' on me that she's told not only all the school Mom's but Mrs Tree as well. They think it's hilarious and raz me unmercifully. *Sigh*..........

Too many stories to type out.

Definately anti-CFL here.

[DairyMan7]

Agreed, the problem we have are the higher ups. Us as Constables and for the most part Corporals love Alberta and every small town we police.

The first part of the problem is when the commissioner was welcome into parliment. Before that we were totally separate. Now the commissioner is picked by the prime minister and really the last few guys were a bust.

To bad for old KNECHT he would have made a good commish

I'm all in favour of having a commish but he should sit on a board to run the RCMP, not him himself.

Maybe we can get updated uniforms...Ever watch to serve and protect and see the shows from the 70's and 80's oh ya we are still wearing that same uniform.
I'm not talking about the serge, but out duty uniform

[Lone_Wolf]

Great news!

[deanmc]

It means nothing. I heard the minister talk to Rutherford about this. It is a 20 year contract but there are exit agreements available to either party if wanted.

[So Nova *!%]

Ok so what did I miss?
10 years ago I would have never seen a sheriff, and while I knew we had them(1 per town kind of) now a days they are everywhere in our great province and they are the highway cops,they hand out speeding tickets and the likes often with a RCMP cruiser in tow but the RC's are not doing the work
Seems to me like we do have a provincial police force. The sheriff of days gone by was mostly a bailiff ,a person of authority to hand out subpoenas and witness repossessions; they sure came into a lot of power for a court officer IMO

[deanmc]

RCMP are mostly for small towns and remote areas. They are having trouble recruiting for just that reason.