LAC LA BICHE - Other communities in Alberta want to build what Lac La Biche County already has — and local officials are sensing the urgency to keep ahead of the pack.
As Lac La Biche County's elected officials and senior administrators plan to expand the existing Law Enforcement Training program located in the community, other Alberta centres are looking to duplicate the same services. Late last week a province-wide news release was issued by the Government of Alberta and the Town of Beaumont, announcing that community's desires to have their own law enforcement training centre.
Lac La Biche's Law Enforcement Training program has been running for the last two years. It is a first-of-its-kind training program combining the resources of the municipality, Portage College and Alberta Justice to train and certify peace officers. Over the last two years, the locally-operated program will have graduated more than 50 certified community peace officers into municipalities across the province, along with dozens more officers from various enforcement agencies in singular training sessions.
In two short years, says the program's lead instructor and Lac La Biche County's Enforcement Services Manager Chris Clark, the program has shown its viability — and the demand will continue to grow. Clark fully supports an expansion of the local program which includes a full 11-week class that graduates community peace officers, as well as training for specific courses required by all law enforcement agencies. The courses and training sessions include de-escalation protocols, self-defence,emergency vehicle operation and some firearms training. All of the training is held at the county's Protective Services Building, Portage College and community facilities like the Lac La Biche airport and the Lac La Biche Gun Club.
In recent evaluations from graduating students and course registrants, the program has been credited as a professional, effective and valuable resource, says Clark.
Local elected officials have also realized the popular training program is a revenue generator and economic development booster for the community.
Those positives are what the recent proposal from Beaumont focused on as well.
Beaumont moves in
"This proposed project would deliver the most up-to-date transportation and law enforcement training programs in a modern and new facility, benefiting all Albertans in and around Beaumont. The construction and operation of the facility would also create new jobs and economic activity in the area," notes the information package. "This next stage will explore the details for the space required for the proposed training facility to operate. All partners will help to determine the site requirements, such as scenario and tactical training space, driving track, firearms ranges and administrative space."
Lac La Biche County councillors are aware of Beaumont's request, and while there are still a lot of questions about having two similar programs operating within a 300 kilometre radius and possibly attracting the same participants, local officials are confident the existing program in their own community will continue to be utilized.
But they also know it's going to take effort and careful attention, says Lac La Biche County Mayor Paul Reutov.
"We had a discussion regarding this ... last Thursday, and stressed the importance of making sure we do not drop the ball on this one. I believe Lac La Biche County has a good advantage on this, and we need to do everything we can to see it through."
Council is expected to present its own plan for program expansion at their public meeting this coming week. Those plans will also be presented to provincial officials, funding sources and operational partners once they are approved.
Lac La Biche County councillor Charlyn Moore expects the discussion will result in "very clear direction" on plans going forward.
Northern Development MLA Brian Jean
Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche MLA, and Alberta's Minister of Jobs, Economy and Northern Development Brian Jean was contacted by Lakeland This Week for a comment on the similar training programs. In an email request for comment, he was asked how much support the community could expect from his office to expand the training program in Lac La Biche, and how significant the Lac La Biche County project is with regards to the "Northern Development" portion of his provincial portfolio.
The request to Jean was sent on Saturday afternoon. A response had not been received by the first editorial deadline of the story.
Lac La Biche County's next council meeting is scheduled for April 25 at 10 a.m. at McArthur Place.