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 is composed of five public appointees and two City councillors and is responsible for providing independent oversight of the police service, ensuring it meets legislated requirements and community expectations with accountability, transparency, and professionalism.
Commission Chair Dan Wong expressed excitement about the work ahead, highlighting the importance of the Commission’s role in guiding the transition and ensuring careful execution of the City’s policing plan.
“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 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 consultants involved in its creation. 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 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,” said Dan Wong, Chair of the Grande Prairie Police Commission.
The Commission’s public members bring extensive experience across governance, law, business, Indigenous advocacy, community affairs, non-profit work, finance, human resources, conflict resolution, and public safety, supported by two City councillors who ensure strong public service representation.
The Commission’s initial priorities include hiring a police chief, establishing a budget, allocating funds, and ensuring the necessary resources are in place to support the transition to a municipal police service.
At its first meeting, the Commission elected its chair and vice-chair, appointed a public complaints officer, and established standing committees to support governance and oversight responsibilities.
The Commission is on track to have officers working in Grande Prairie later in the year as part of the phased transition to a municipal police service.
For more information on the Grande Prairie Police Commission and the municipal police service, please visit cityofgp.com/municipalpolice.
