News
Grande Prairie Police Commission holds first meeting to set course for municipal police service

May 26, 2023, Grande Prairie, Alta. – The newly appointed Grande Prairie Police Commission held its inaugural meeting on May 25, 2023 to establish policies, procedures, and standards for the city’s new municipal police service.

The commission, which is composed of five public appointees and two city councillors, is tasked with providing independent oversight of the police service and ensuring that it meets legislated and community needs with accountability, transparency and professionalism.

Commissioner Dan Wong, the newly appointed chair of the Grande Prairie Police Commission, expressed excitement about the Commission’s work ahead. “As we move forward, I’m encouraged by the experience and diverse backgrounds of our commission members for this historic transition. I have great confidence that this group will do an excellent job at executing the duties of the municipal police commission. The key to success will be careful execution of city council’s transition plan. We appreciate the expertise of city staff and the team of consultants who were involved in the creation of that plan. On behalf of the commission and the community, I would like to thank the RCMP who have served this city well and have agreed to assist in the five-year transition. This commission is committed to ensuring that the new police service is responsive to the needs and priorities of our community. We will work diligently to establish policies and procedures that promote public safety, build trust, and foster positive relationships between the police and the community.”

The five public member appointees for the Grande Prairie Police Commission are highly qualified individuals with a wealth of experience and expertise in various fields. The two appointed council member representatives ensure a broad and vital public service perspective is always present in the commission. The group possesses strong knowledge in governance, law, business, indigenous advocacy, community affairs, non-profit work, finance, human resources, conflict resolution and public safety, among other areas.

“We are confident that these commission members will serve the community with distinction as they work to establish the framework, priorities, and leadership direction of the incoming Grande Prairie Police Service.”

The commission’s first order of business is hiring a police chief, establishing a budget and allocating funds, and ensuring sufficient resources are in place as they support the police transition. At their first meeting, the commission elected the chair and vice-chair, appointed a public complaint officer and established their standing committees. With the police service’s website expected to come online in June, the commission is on track to have officers working in Grande Prairie later this year.