Alberta Aligns Community Peace Officers with Police to Tackle Fentanyl Crisis
The Alberta government is directing municipalities to align their community peace officer programs under local police leadership in an effort to combat the fentanyl crisis. The move, affecting 34 large- and mid-sized municipalities, will see more than 800 community peace officers immediately begin coordinating operations with police to address social disorder linked to illicit drug use.
“We know a law enforcement presence will make a difference,” said Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis. “Fentanyl continues to endanger the lives of Albertans and is devastating to families and communities. Crisis demands immediate and unified action.”
The province says closer collaboration between police and peace officers will create a more visible and unified front against crime. The initiative has the backing of municipal leaders, including Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek, who said her city has “led the way with a strong, unified response for the last several years,” and Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi, who called it “critical for supporting healthy communities.”
The Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police also endorsed the move, with president Mark Neufeld saying it represents “strong collaboration and cooperation” in tackling fentanyl-related crime. The province will monitor the effectiveness of the changes to determine next steps.
