Okotoks RCMP might get three more officers added to its ranks if the Town’s proposed 2016 budget is approved as it currently stands.
Budget proposals unveiled by Town administration last week include adding three new full-time police positions at the Okotoks RCMP detachment.
RCMP asked town council earlier this year for three new officers to keep up with growth in the community.
“It builds our core and allow us to look at maybe additional specialized sections where we see need to add to our detachment,” said Okotoks RCMP Staff Sgt. Jim Ross.
Ross said he is waiting for council make its final decision on the budget before determining how the new officers will be deployed.
The positions will come in effect in July, October and December. The three additional RCMP officers will cost the Town $140,000 in 2016.
At least one town councillor hopes to have the new police officers working sooner rather than later to stay ahead of policing needs for the community.
“If there’s one thing I heard in the community is they’re looking for more RCMP presence to start curbing some of the petty crime we have,” said Coun. Carrie Fischer. “We are starting to see domestic violence going up.”
She hopes the Town can find a way to speed up the process to get the new officers working in Okotoks.
“I think there’s ways we could bring that forward, at least get the requests in a little sooner,” she said.
Scott Roberts, Okotoks protective services manager, said Town administration reviewed the RCMP’s request and the positions are staggered out to start over the course of the year to spread the cost of the three officers as well as to give the RCMP time to prepare to fill the spots.
“[The RCMP] do a great job of filling our request, but remember they’re not just answering our request they’re answering requests from across the province,” he said.
The proposed 2016 budget does not include much additional funding for the Town’s fire department or Okotoks Municipal Enforcement.
The budget does not include funding for additional firefighters. The fire department is seeking $40,000 for a new utility vehicle, $100,000 for equipment and $180,000 for new extraction tools, such as jaws of life and hydraulic scissors.
The budget does not propose adding any new bylaw officers, but it proposes adding a half-time administrative support position for municipal enforcement.
