Nicolle Hodges | [email protected]
Jasper Municipal Council is ready to make a decision as to whether Jasper will have Municipal Compliance Officers (MCO) or Community Peace Officers (CPO).
Either way, the predominant question in council this week was how to best ensure optimal safety for officers and the community.
Licensing and enforcement manager Neil Jones said training is always his number one concern.
He presented council a training module outlining the courses required to qualify officers to a higher designation.
鈥淲hat I want is to make sure that whatever way the council goes, we have the proper training in place for officers,鈥� said Jones.
There are currently two designations: Level 1 and Level 2.
And with the CPO status getting an overhaul, the options are now: Train up from CPO Level 2 to the higher level, CPO Level 1, or become MCOs.
The Transition Training Program, which consists of training modules delivered by private, accredited training providers will become available in late January.
The TTP will include training in control tactics and verbal de-escalation (in-class), traffic stops (in-class), notebook skills (online), report writing (online), and legal studies (in-class).
The courses will take approximately three weeks to complete if done consecutively.
Mayor Richard Ireland said: 鈥淭he case that got us into this is all about officer safety.鈥� - Referring to the death of an on-duty peace officer in Calgary.
Jenna McGrath remarked: 鈥淥nly one of the five training modules includes officer safety.鈥�
Jones reiterated the significance of the control tactics and verbal de-escalation aspects of the training program and said that some elements of the training are still under development and accreditation.
As it stands, Level 1 officers are given special training covering officer safety and defensive tactics, they have access to the motor vehicle registry and can issue provincial tickets and use provincial laws.
Peace officers are responsible for animal control, bylaw enforcement, enforcement of provincial statutes and business licensing, and parking control.
MCOs have less powers than peace officers with little or no safety training.
Existing CPOs at Level 2 will have until December 31, 2022 to complete the TTP and must have been in the field for at least six months on completion of training to qualify for an amended appointment (designation).
Once an officer starts training, they must complete all of the modules within 12 months.
New CPO2 appointments will no longer be issued after December 31, 2020.
鈥淚t鈥檚 good that they are taking the time to deliberate; it鈥檚 an important decision,鈥� said Jones.
鈥淔rom a recruitment standpoint, a decision by the end of this year would be a significant date.鈥�
