Alberta gives Edmonton police $8.3M to go ahead with planned hiring of 50 new officers

The Alberta government has handed over funding for the Edmonton Police Service to move ahead with plans to hire more officers.

On Tuesday afternoon, provincial Public Safety and Emergency Services Minister Mike Ellis and other officials held a news conference.

The province has given EPS $8.3-million to help with recruiting, training and deploying 50 officers to high-crime areas like transit centres and the downtown core.

The funding goes towards putting into action a previously announced plan. A similar announcement is expected Wednesday in Calgary.

The government said the money will help pay for police officer salaries and benefits, and equipment like vehicles, uniforms, radios and body-worn cameras.

Meanwhile, EPS said it has already increased recruit class sizes.

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Funding breakdown:

• $4.5 million for officer salaries and benefits
• $2.5 million for one-time costs like vehicles, uniforms, radios and workstations
• $850,000 for ongoing technology costs
• $500,000 for one-time recruitment expansion efforts

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It’s been a year since a task force was formed to try to deal with the complex and often intertwined issues of addiction, homelessness and crime in Edmonton.

The Edmonton Public Safety and Community Response Task Force is chaired by Ellis, who is a former Calgary police officer.

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