Wetaskiwin County will receive a maximum of 550 hours of enhanced policing after council approved an a agreement with the province at its Oct. 18 meeting.
“I think it’s a great program,” said Coun. Terry Van de Kraats.
The enhanced policing contract will start Jan. 1, 2017 and commence Dec. 31, 2017; totaling $45,000.
County council was presented with three contract options. Councillors chose to enhance policing for a specified event or limited period of time: one year. The other options included one or more contractors sub-contracting with the province to provide a full time RCMP member for a minimum of three years.
With an enhanced policing contract, CAO Frank Coutney says members from different detachments can be brought in to fill a need. “In the past 12 months they haven’t had any issues … there’s a line up to fill that contract.”
“It’s been a positive thing,” he added.
In 2016 the County of Wetaskiwin’s Enhanced Level of Policing policy provided 330 hours of enhanced policing for long weekends and other major events throughout the county.