Alberta Provincial Police
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The Alberta Provincial Police (APP) was the provincial police service for the
province A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''Roman province, provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire ...
of
Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...
, Canada from 1917 to 1932. The APP was formed as a result of the
Royal North-West Mounted Police The North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) was a Canadian para-military police force, established in 1873, to maintain order in the new Canadian North-West Territories (NWT) following the 1870 transfer of Rupert’s Land and North-Western Territor ...
(RNWMP) leaving the
prairie provinces The Canadian Prairies (usually referred to as simply the Prairies in Canada) is a region in Western Canada. It includes the Canadian portion of the Great Plains and the Prairie Provinces, namely Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. These provin ...
during the
First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
due to a lack of sufficient resources in light of its increased responsibilities for national security and reluctance to again enforce Prohibition law recently put into effect by the Alberta government after its experience doing so during territorial times. The RNWMP was replaced by the newly created Alberta Provincial Police on March 1, 1917, which remained responsible for provincial policing until 1932, when it was eliminated as a cost-cutting measure during the
Great Depression The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...
. The APP was known for its tumultuous beginning, battles against
rum-runners Rum-running or bootlegging is the illegal business of smuggling alcoholic beverages where such transportation is forbidden by law. Smuggling usually takes place to circumvent taxation or prohibition laws within a particular jurisdiction. The ...
and
bootleggers Bootleg or bootlegging most often refers to: * Bootleg recording, an audio or video recording released unofficially * Rum-running, the illegal business of transporting and trading in alcoholic beverages, hence: ** Moonshine, or illicitly made ...
during prohibition in Canada and the United States, as well as its remarkable efficiency and professionalism which endeared to the force to Albertans. On November 9, 2019, Premier
Jason Kenney Jason Thomas Kenney (born May 30, 1968) is a Canadian former politician who served as the 18th premier of Alberta from 2019 until 2022 and the leader of the United Conservative Party (UCP) from 2017 until 2022. He also served as the member of ...
announced a panel exploring the benefits of reinstating the APP, along with other policies regarding the return of federal programs to Alberta's jurisdiction. Today the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP; french: Gendarmerie royale du Canada; french: GRC, label=none), commonly known in English as the Mounties (and colloquially in French as ) is the federal police, federal and national police service of ...
's "K" Division is responsible for provincial policing in Alberta and the
Alberta Sheriffs Branch The Alberta Sheriffs Branch is a provincial law enforcement agency overseen by the Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services of the province of Alberta, Canada. Under the authority of the ''Peace Officer Act'', Alberta Sheriffs are provin ...
is responsible for additional provincial law enforcement.


History


North-West Mounted Police in Alberta

Policing of the area now known as the Province of Alberta began in 1874 with the creation of the
North-West Mounted Police The North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) was a Canadian para-military police force, established in 1873, to maintain order in the new Canadian North-West Territories (NWT) following the 1870 transfer of Rupert’s Land and North-Western Territory ...
(NWMP). King
Edward VII Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. The second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria an ...
, awarded the title ''Royal'' to the North-West Mounted Police (RNWMP) in 1904. Upon Alberta entering
Confederation A confederation (also known as a confederacy or league) is a union of sovereign groups or states united for purposes of common action. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issu ...
in 1905,
Wilfrid Laurier Sir Henri Charles Wilfrid Laurier, ( ; ; November 20, 1841 – February 17, 1919) was a Canadian lawyer, statesman, and politician who served as the seventh prime minister of Canada from 1896 to 1911. The first French Canadian prime minis ...
proposed that the mounted police should remain in the new provinces, under contract to the provincial authorities for $75,000 per year apiece – about one-third of the actual operational cost – a solution which was approved by both sides. The workload on the police grew quickly as a consequence, with the criminal cases being handled almost trebling between 1905 and 1912 to over 13,000. Despite complaints from
Commissioner A commissioner (commonly abbreviated as Comm'r) is, in principle, a member of a commission or an individual who has been given a commission (official charge or authority to do something). In practice, the title of commissioner has evolved to in ...
Aylesworth Bowen Perry Aylesworth Bowen Perry, C.M.G. (August 21, 1860 – February 14, 1956) served as the sixth Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, from August 1, 1900, to March 31, 1923. Early life Aylesworth Perry was born at Violet, near Napanee, ...
, the government refused to increase the establishment of the mounted police. By 1913, the provinces were expressing dissatisfaction about the service being delivered. Tensions grew between temperance campaigners and soldiers over the implementation of the liquor laws. The police barracks in
Calgary Calgary ( ) is the largest city in the western Canadian province of Alberta and the largest metro area of the three Prairie Provinces. As of 2021, the city proper had a population of 1,306,784 and a metropolitan population of 1,481,806, makin ...
were attacked in October 1916 by a crowd of over two hundred soldiers and civilians, who were trying to release six soldiers arrested for alcohol offences. The building was destroyed, one police officer was shot and several more injured. The effects of the
First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
weighed heavily on the RNWMP throughout Canada, as young Canadian men joined the
Canadian Expeditionary Force The Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) was the expeditionary field force of Canada during the First World War. It was formed following Britain’s declaration of war on Germany on 15 August 1914, with an initial strength of one infantry division ...
in large numbers. The Mounties were charged with additional security responsibilities such as control, monitoring and registration of
enemy aliens In customary international law, an enemy alien is any native, citizen, denizen or subject of any foreign nation or government with which a domestic nation or government is in conflict and who is liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured and ...
, greater surveillance of the Canada-United States border between
Lake of the Woods Lake of the Woods (french: Lac des Bois, oj, Pikwedina Sagainan) is a lake occupying parts of the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Manitoba and the U.S. state of Minnesota. Lake of the Woods is over long and wide, containing more than 14,55 ...
in
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and the eastern slopes of the
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, guarding prisoners and investigations into complaints against enemy aliens. The RNWMP also established a special squadron of 150 men in Regina for the purpose of controlling riots and insurrections. Owing to these greater responsibilities, which came without additional funding, on June 20, 1916, Commissioner Perry advised the federal government that the RNWMP law enforcement contract with the
prairie provinces The Canadian Prairies (usually referred to as simply the Prairies in Canada) is a region in Western Canada. It includes the Canadian portion of the Great Plains and the Prairie Provinces, namely Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. These provin ...
should be temporarily suspended for the duration of the First World War. Commissioner Perry reached out to the prairie provinces to negotiate agreements to suspend police services, and while the government of Saskatchewan was agreeable to the temporary change in policing, the Alberta government remained uncertain. Alberta's government under Premier
Arthur Sifton Arthur Lewis Watkins Sifton (October 26, 1858 – January 21, 1921) was a Canadian lawyer, judge and politician who served as the second premier of Alberta from 1910 until 1917. He became a minister in the federal cabinet of Canada thereaf ...
agreed to the change following a telegram from Prime Minister
Robert Borden Sir Robert Laird Borden (June 26, 1854 – June 10, 1937) was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the eighth prime minister of Canada from 1911 to 1920. He is best known for his leadership of Canada during World War I. Borde ...
on November 25, 1916, and the necessary
Order-in-Council An Order-in-Council is a type of legislation in many countries, especially the Commonwealth realms. In the United Kingdom this legislation is formally made in the name of the monarch by and with the advice and consent of the Privy Council (''Kin ...
s were passed by the federal government in Ottawa a few days later on November 29, 1916. RNWMP services in Alberta would cease at midnight on December 31, 1916; however, the Alberta government was not prepared to stand-up a police force with only a months notice, so Borden extended the handover date to March 1, 1917.


Early days of the Alberta Provincial Police

Premier Arthur Sifton announced the new Alberta Provincial Police under the authority of a three-person Board of Commissioners. Sifton hoped leaving the police force at arm's length from the
Legislature A legislature is an assembly with the authority to make law Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its p ...
would reduce
politicization Politicisation (also politicization; see English spelling differences) is a concept in political science and theory used to explain how ideas, entities or collections of facts are given a political tone or character, and are consequently assigned ...
through an intermediary. The Board of Commissioners was created on February 2, 1917, via Order in Council with Deputy Attorney General Arthur George Browning, Police Magistrate for the City of Calgary Gilbert Edward Sanders, and Police Magistrate for the City of Edmonton and former Mountie
Philip Primrose Philip Carteret Hill Primrose (October 23, 1864 – March 17, 1937) was a Canadian police officer and the fifth Lieutenant Governor of Alberta. Primrose was born in 1864 in Nova Scotia. He attended the Pictou Academy before graduating from ...
as the Commissioner. The Board had the authority to set general policies, guidelines and in association with newly appointed Superintendent Major A.E.C. McConnell, oversee the hiring and dismissal of personnel. The newly formed APP was provided a few horses and
Ford Model T The Ford Model T is an automobile that was produced by Ford Motor Company from October 1, 1908, to May 26, 1927. It is generally regarded as the first affordable automobile, which made car travel available to middle-class Americans. The relati ...
's, and was primarily composed of former RNWMP officers, with 85% of members previously being employed as Mounties. Despite efforts to depoliticize the new police force, the provincial government was excited about the prospect of the APP, in particular enforcing the ''Liquor Control Act'' and prohibition, which RNWMP Commissioner Perry was happy to ignore. Additional restrictions to liquor control came in 1918 when the federal government outlawed importation of liquor containing more than 2.5% alcohol content into Canada, while just across the border, the state of
Montana Montana () is a state in the Mountain West division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbi ...
remained wet.
Rum runners Rum-running or bootlegging is the illegal business of smuggling alcoholic beverages where such transportation is forbidden by law. Smuggling usually takes place to circumvent taxation or prohibition laws within a particular jurisdiction. The ter ...
began operating across the Canada-United States border infamously through Whiskey Gap, British Columbia border, and Saskatchewan border using equipment superior to the APP's vehicles. While the rum runners had the upper hand during the early parts of prohibition, the APP grew sophisticated to handle the growing activity, especially after 1919 when the United States passed
prohibition Prohibition is the act or practice of forbidding something by law; more particularly the term refers to the banning of the manufacture, storage (whether in barrels or in bottles), transportation, sale, possession, and consumption of alcoholic ...
through the Eighteenth Amendment. The APP's duties expanded quickly as the police force was viewed as a tool for facilitating provincial policy, which was well beyond the scope of basic policing. The expanded responsibilities included transporting sick and isolated homesteaders to the hospital, administering the estate of institutionalized persons, administering the ''Mother's Pension Act'' which provided funds to widowed or deserted women to feed their children, inspected poolrooms, cafes,
cattle Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, cloven-hooved, herbivores. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus ''Bos''. Adult females are referred to as cows and adult mal ...
, and as a debt collection service. The APP were not an early success, the costs to the provincial treasury for operating a police force quickly rose from the $75,000 annually under the RNWMP to an average of nearly half a million dollars between 1918 and 1922, which represented about 5% of the provincial government's total annual revenue. Attrition was high for the new force, which saw 66 of the original 216 members resign in the first year of operations, and another 14 were dismissed by the service. Major McDonnell resigned by year end, leaving a depleted force of 139 men for the new Superintendent Willoughby Charles Bryan.


Conviction rates

Among the APP's strengths during its time was the force's
conviction rate The conviction rate of a prosecuting unit of government (federal, state, etc.) reflects the likelihood that a case brought in that jurisdiction will end in conviction. Conviction rates reflect many aspects of the legal processes and systems at wor ...
, which averaged 80% throughout its history. In particular the Calgary Division had significant success in 1930, with 2,492 convictions on 2,954 arrests, good enough for an 89.9% conviction rate. Among the 10% which were not convicted included individuals who were wanted outside of Alberta or Canada and handed over.


End of the Alberta Provincial Police

Across the Fourth Meridian the government of Saskatchewan was evaluating the future of the Saskatchewan Provincial Police (SPP) which was founded alongside the APP during the First World War. The Saskatchewan government led by
Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...
Premier
James Garfield Gardiner James Garfield Gardiner (30 November 1883 – 12 January 1962) was a Canadian farmer, educator, and politician. He served as the fourth premier of Saskatchewan, and as a minister in the Canadian Cabinet. Political career Gardiner was first elec ...
sought to save money, reduce duplication of services and improve the reputation of the SPP. He approached the
Mackenzie King William Lyon Mackenzie King (December 17, 1874 – July 22, 1950) was a Canadian statesman and politician who served as the tenth prime minister of Canada for three non-consecutive terms from 1921 to 1926, 1926 to 1930, and 1935 to 1948. A Li ...
government through
Minister of Justice A justice ministry, ministry of justice, or department of justice is a ministry or other government agency in charge of the administration of justice. The ministry or department is often headed by a minister of justice (minister for justice in a v ...
Ernest Lapointe Ernest Lapointe (October 6, 1876 – November 26, 1941) was a Canadian lawyer and politician. A member of Parliament from Quebec City, he was a senior minister in the government of Prime Minister W. L. Mackenzie King, playing an importa ...
in 1926 and provided three options, the RCMP take over the SPP duties; the SPP take over the RCMP duties; or the SPP take over RCMP duties outside of the border and remove northern areas. RCMP Commissioner
Cortlandt Starnes Cortlandt Starnes (March 31, 1864 – May 28, 1934) was the 7th Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, from April 1, 1923 to July 31, 1931. He died in St. Hilaire, Quebec on May 28, 1934 and is buried in Cote des Neiges Cemetery, Mo ...
recognized the threat two of the options had to the future expansion of the RCMP, and personally viewed the provincial police as inferior to the RCMP and highly susceptible to political influence. Starnes prepared a secret briefing for Lapointe which persuasively argued for the RCMP to take over provincial policing responsibilities in Saskatchewan. While disinterested in the RCMP and the situation in Saskatchewan, Prime Minister King advised Lapointe to resolve the matter to Premier Gardiner's satisfaction, and following a quick round of negotiations the SPP was disbanded by the end of 1928. The Alberta government was facing significant financial challenges as the province entered the 1930s, and the economics of maintaining a provincial police force was a difficult proposition for the United Farmers government under Premier
John Edward Brownlee John Edward Brownlee, (August 27, 1883 – July 15, 1961) was the fifth premier of Alberta, serving from 1925 until 1934. Born in Port Ryerse, Ontario, he studied history and political science at the University of Toronto's Victoria College ...
. The earliest calls for dissolution of the force came from
Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization i ...
party leader
David Milwyn Duggan David Milwyn Duggan (May 5, 1879 – May 4, 1942) was a Welsh-born Canadian politician who was the Mayor of Edmonton from 1920 to 1923, a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, and a leader of the Conservative Party of Alberta. Early li ...
in 1930, arguing the savings disbanding the force would provide; this was refuted by Attorney General John F. Lymburn. Meanwhile, in the winter of 1930–1931, Brownlee had reached out to the Saskatchewan Attorney General Murdoch Alexander MacPherson inquiring about the province's satisfaction with the performance of the RCMP, enforcement of provincial law including liquor, and employment of former SPP officers within the RCMP. MacPherson's responses to Brownlee were a positive indictment of the operation of the RCMP. The
1930 Canadian federal election The 1930 Canadian federal election was held on July 28, 1930, to elect members of the House of Commons of the 17th Parliament of Canada. Richard Bedford Bennett's Conservative Party won a majority government, defeating the Liberal Party led by ...
saw Mackenzie King's Liberal government removed from power, and
Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization i ...
Calgarian R. B. Bennett took over as Canada's eleventh Prime Minister. Bennett appointed General
James Howden MacBrien Major General Sir James Howden MacBrien (30 June 1878 – 5 March 1938) was a Canadian soldier and Chief of the General Staff, the head of the Canadian Militia (renamed the Canadian Army in 1940) from 1920 until 1927. Military career Educated ...
as Commissioner of the RCMP and enthusiastically supported the idea of a single, nation-wide law enforcement agency, which would provide efficiencies through
economies of scale In microeconomics, economies of scale are the cost advantages that enterprises obtain due to their scale of operation, and are typically measured by the amount of output produced per unit of time. A decrease in cost per unit of output enables ...
over fractured provincial police forces. Bennett had publicly opposed the RNWMP withdrawal of the prairie provinces in 1917 as a member of Prime Minister Borden's caucus, and saw the RCMP as an opportunity to assert federal control over policing, particularly around the issue of the union movement and left-wing political parties. Brownlee recognizing the opportunity and facing significant financial pressures approached Commissioner MacBrien on December 3, 1931, seeking a new federal contract. The Bennett government in 1931–1932 provided good terms to Alberta,
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,
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,
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, and
Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island (PEI; ) is one of the thirteen Provinces and territories of Canada, provinces and territories of Canada. It is the smallest province in terms of land area and population, but the most densely populated. The island has seve ...
for policing services, which enticed the provinces to support the RCMP's jurisdictional growth. Alberta was provided a contract which required the province to pay $225,000 in the first year, and $250,000 for the next four years in return for the services of 200–225 RCMP, which was half of the cost of maintaining the APP. The APP suffered another blow with the resignation of long time Commissioner W. C. Bryan on October 1, 1931, reportedly due to health concerns. Originally appointed Commissioner in 1922, Bryan worked tirelessly to improve the quality and reputation of the APP. His resignation was a signal that the APP's days were numbered. Albertans and the provincial government were concerned about the potential loss of the APP, which had gained the admiration and trust of the province. However, supports of the APP were unable to muster significant opposition to the new federal contract, owing to the speed in which it was negotiated and the secrecy involving the details of the contract. On February 25, 1932, Justice Minister Lymburn introduced into the
7th Alberta Legislature The 7th Alberta Legislative Assembly was in session from January 29, 1931, to July 22, 1935, with the membership of the assembly determined by the results of the 1930 Alberta general election held on June 19, 1930. The Legislature officially resu ...
the ''An Act to ratify a certain Agreement between the Government of the Dominion of Canada and the Government of the Province of Alberta for Policing the Province'' (Bill 42) and ''An Act to Amend the Provincial Police Act, 1928'' (Bill 43) which would wind down the operations of the APP. Bill 42 ratifying the agreement passed on March 7, 1932, by a vote of 50–7, while Bill 43 was passed two weeks later on March 21, 1932. Finally, on April 1, 1932, the RCMP began policing operations in Alberta. The change was bittersweet for many Albertans, with the Calgary-based newspaper ''The Albertan'' publishing a fond goodbye to the force on April 1. The RCMP proved to be a more economical policing solution for Alberta, with the province reducing the costs of policing on the provincial treasury by almost 50%, while receiving a disproportionate number of RCMP officers. In 1933, 350 men were stationed in Alberta, representing 14.5% of the RCMP manpower, yet Alberta's contract required the province to only contribute 3.6% of the RCMP's budget.


Continued interest in provincial policing

Calls for Alberta to establish a provincial police force grew into the 21st century along with prosperity from record energy prices during the early 2000s. Increasing
Western alienation In Canadian politics, Western alienation is the notion that the Western provinces – British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba – have been alienated, and in some cases excluded, from mainstream Canadian political affairs in fav ...
coupled with perceived hostile federal governments in the late-1990s and early-2000s made greater control over policing, taxation and other matters palatable to Albertans. The 2001
Alberta Agenda The Alberta Agenda, the Firewall Letter, was a January 2001 open letter by seven prominent conservatives in Alberta—including Calgary School professors and Stephen Harper—addressed to then Premier of Alberta, Ralph Klein, setting out a five-poin ...
(often called the "Firewall Letter"), was an
open letter An open letter is a Letter (message), letter that is intended to be read by a wide audience, or a letter intended for an individual, but that is nonetheless widely distributed intentionally. Open letters usually take the form of a letter (mess ...
authored by future Conservative Prime Minister
Stephen Harper Stephen Joseph Harper (born April 30, 1959) is a Canadian politician who served as the 22nd prime minister of Canada from 2006 to 2015. Harper is the first and only prime minister to come from the modern-day Conservative Party of Canada, ...
and six other prominent conservative Albertans addressed to Premier
Ralph Klein Ralph Philip Klein (November 1, 1942 – March 29, 2013) was a Canadian politician and journalist who served as the 12th premier of Alberta and leader of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta from 1992 until his retirement in 20 ...
called for the provincial government to assert control and exercise Constitutional powers to provide Alberta with more autonomy. Among the suggestions in the letter was the cancellation of the provincial RCMP contract and establishment of a new provincial police force. While the Firewall Letter dominated the headlines, it came at an inopportune time for Premier Klein, only three months before the
2001 Alberta general election The 2001 Alberta general election was held on March 12, 2001 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The incumbent Alberta Progressive Conservative Party, led by Ralph Klein, won a strong majority for its tenth consecutive term i ...
. Klein delayed an official response to the recommendations, and publicly refute some of the proposals in a response one month later, and subsequently led the
Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta (often referred to colloquially as Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta) was a provincial centre-right party in the Canadian province of Alberta that existed from 1905 to 2020. The party f ...
to a commanding victory, taking 62% of the vote and forming his third majority government. However, Klein appointed nine MLAs to the Committee on Strengthening Alberta's Role in Confederation, which recommended against a number of the policy points in the letter, yet called for a study of the RCMP to evaluate if an alternative could be operationally and financially viable. This study was never completed, and in 2011 Klein's successor
Ed Stelmach Edward Michael Stelmach (; born May 11, 1951) is a Canadian politician and served as the 13th premier of Alberta, from 2006 to 2011. The grandson of Ukrainian immigrants, Stelmach was born and raised on a farm near Lamont and fluently speaks ...
signed a 20-year provincial policing contract with the RCMP. Provincial control of policing entered the forefront of Alberta politics again following the election of the
United Conservative Party The United Conservative Party of Alberta (UCP) is a conservative political party in the province of Alberta, Canada. It was established in July 2017 as a merger between the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta and the Wildrose Party. ...
in the
2019 Alberta general election The 2019 Alberta general election was held on April 16, 2019, to elect 87 members to the 30th Alberta Legislature. In its first general election contest, the Jason Kenney-led United Conservative Party (UCP) won 54.88% of the popular vote and 63 ...
. Premier Jason Kenney appointed six prominent Albertans and three Members of the Legislative Assembly to form the ''Fair Deal Panel'', which was mandated to listen to Albertans and their ideas for Alberta's future. The panel's mandate included a number of policy topics to evaluate and publicly consult on, including establishing a provincial police force by ending the Alberta Police Service Agreement with the Government of Canada. The Fair Deal Panel delivered its final report in May 2020 and recommended the province re-establish the APP to replace the RCMP. The report noted Albertans would benefit from a stable police presence in rural communities, and the agility provided to redistribute police resources without the approval of the federal government. Under the current federal-provincial agreement, the Alberta government pays $262.4-million for RCMP service, with the Government of Canada contributing $112.4-million, which is approximately 30% of the total cost of policing in the province.


Ranks

Known ranks on the force: *
Commissioner A commissioner (commonly abbreviated as Comm'r) is, in principle, a member of a commission or an individual who has been given a commission (official charge or authority to do something). In practice, the title of commissioner has evolved to in ...
*
Superintendent Superintendent may refer to: *Superintendent (police), Superintendent of Police (SP), or Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), a police rank *Prison warden or Superintendent, a prison administrator *Superintendent (ecclesiastical), a church exec ...
*
Assistant Superintendent Assistant superintendent, or assistant superintendent of police (ASP), is a rank that was used by police forces in the British Empire and is still used in many police forces in the Commonwealth. It was usually the lowest rank that could be held ...
*
Inspector Inspector, also police inspector or inspector of police, is a police rank. The rank or position varies in seniority depending on the organization that uses it. Australia In Australian police forces, the rank of inspector is generally the ne ...
*
Detective A detective is an investigator, usually a member of a law enforcement agency. They often collect information to solve crimes by talking to witnesses and informants, collecting physical evidence, or searching records in databases. This leads th ...
*
Sergeant Sergeant (abbreviated to Sgt. and capitalized when used as a named person's title) is a rank in many uniformed organizations, principally military and policing forces. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and other uni ...
*
Constable A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in criminal law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions. A constable is commonly the rank of an officer within the police. Other peop ...


Commissioners


Board of Commissioners

* Philip Carteret Hill Primrose – Chairman (1917–1919) – Police Magistrate for the city of Edmonton and previously with the
North-West Mounted Police The North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) was a Canadian para-military police force, established in 1873, to maintain order in the new Canadian North-West Territories (NWT) following the 1870 transfer of Rupert’s Land and North-Western Territory ...
* Arthur George Browning KC (1917–1919) – Deputy Attorney General * Gilbert Edward Sanders CMG, DSO (1917–1919) – Police Magistrate for the city of Calgary and previously with the North-West Mounted Police; served in
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
with rank of lieutenant-colonel


After re-organisation

* Alfred Cuddy 1919–1922 – former Chief of
Calgary Police Calgary Police Service (CPS) is the municipal police service of the City of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is the largest municipal police service in Alberta and third largest municipal force in Canada behind the Toronto Police Service and the Mo ...
(1912–1919) and Assistant Commissioner of the
Ontario Provincial Police The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is the provincial police service of Ontario, Canada. Under its provincial mandate, the OPP patrols provincial highways and waterways, protects provincial government buildings and officials, patrols unincorpo ...
* Willoughby Charles Bryan 1922–1932 – previously with the North-West Mounted Police.


Stations and divisions

Alberta Provincial Police stations were known as barracks or detachments with about 100 when the force was created in 1917. The province was divided into division regions: Edmonton, Red Deer, Calgary, Lethbridge, Peace River, and Grande Prairie.


Equipment and vehicles


Land fleet

*
Indian Motorcycles Indian Motorcycle (or ''Indian'') is an American brand of motorcycles owned and produced by American automotive manufacturer Polaris Inc.Winchester Model 1876 Winchester rifle is a comprehensive term describing a series of lever action repeating rifles manufactured by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Developed from the 1860 Henry rifle, Winchester rifles were among the earliest repeaters. The Mo ...
saddle
carbine A carbine ( or ) is a long gun that has a barrel shortened from its original length. Most modern carbines are rifles that are compact versions of a longer rifle or are rifles chambered for less powerful cartridges. The smaller size and lighter ...
—issued in
.45-75 Winchester The .45-75 Winchester ''Centennial'' is a centerfire rifle cartridge developed in 1876 for the newly designed Winchester Model 1876 ''Centennial'' lever-action rifle. Winchester Repeating Arms Company introduced the rifle and cartridge at the U ...
* Lewis guns mounted on motorcycles * MP18 sub-machineguns


Officers killed in the line of duty

* Constable Frank Sissons (UnknownSeptember 8, 1921) – shot in accident while inspecting living conditions of a family. * Constable Oleson (Unknown1922) – injured seriously while enforcing order on a strikers' picketline at
Cardiff, Alberta Cardiff is a hamlet (place), hamlet in central Alberta, Canada within Sturgeon County. It is located east of Alberta Highway 2, Highway 2, approximately north of Edmonton's city limits. The Town of Morinville is to the west of Cardiff. His ...
, died later in hospital. * Constable George Osgoode (UnknownJanuary 25, 1922) – shot by bootlegger at
Kinuso Kinuso ( cr, script=Cans, ᑭᓄᓭᐤ, ) is a hamlet in northern Alberta, Canada within Big Lakes County, and surrounded by the Swan River First Nation reserve. It is located approximately west of Slave Lake and 71 km east of High Prairie ...
.


Constable Fred W.E. Bailey

Constable Fred W.E. Bailey (September 23, 1889August 7, 1920) and Special Constable Nick Kyslik (UnknownAugust 8, 1920) were killed attempting to apprehend suspects involved in the
Canadian Pacific Railway The Canadian Pacific Railway (french: Chemin de fer Canadien Pacifique) , also known simply as CPR or Canadian Pacific and formerly as CP Rail (1968–1996), is a Canadian Class I railway incorporated in 1881. The railway is owned by Canadi ...
Train 63 robbery at Sentinel on August 2, 1920. George Arkoff, Alex Auloff and Tom Bassoff robbed passengers of $400 in cash and a collection of valuable items and escaped into the woods. Auloff headed to the United States alone while Arkoff and Bassoff stayed in the area and were seen entering the Bellevue Café on August 7. APP Constables Fred Bailey and James Frewin along with RCMP Corporal Usher planned to arrest the pair at the café. A shootout ensued where reports indicate Bailey and Usher were killed by Basoff, and Frewin shot and killed Arkoff. Deputized civilian Nick Kyslik was killed the next day investigating a cabin in the area. Bassoff was captured in a shed near the Pincher Creek train station on August 11. He was found guilty of murder and hanged on December 22, 1920.


Constable Stephen O. Lawson

Constable Stephen O. Lawson (June 8, 1880September 21, 1922) was stationed out of the Coleman detachment in Crowsnest Pass, which was a hub for the liquor smuggling into Alberta during prohibition. A common strategy for bootleggers was to run two vehicles, a "dummy" car which had no alcohol in it which would be stopped by the police, and a second vehicle which would race by the distracted officers minutes later. In September 1922 Lawson shot at a fleeing rum-runner which failed to stop at the checkpoint, injuring Steve Picariello, the son of prominent Blairmore bootlegger
Emilio Picariello Emilio Picariello (, ; also known as Emileo PicarielloGray 62 and Emil Picariello,Foster 83 1875Anderson 43 or 1879Brennan 51 – May 2, 1923) was an Italian-Canadian bootlegger and convicted murderer, who was hanged at Fort Saskatchewan in 1923 ...
. On September 21, 1922, Emilio Picariello,
Florence Lassandro Florence Lassandro (; born Filumena Costanzo ; 1900 – May 2, 1923) was an Italian-Canadian bootlegger who was the only woman to be hanged in Alberta. Early life Lassandro was born in Cosenza, Italy, immigrating with her family to Canada in 1 ...
and possibly another shooter confronted and killed Constable Lawson in front of the APP station in Coleman. Both Emilio Picariello and Florence Lassandro were found guilty and hanged on May 2, 1923. "Man and Woman Die for Crime; Double Execution at Saskatchewan This Morning", ''Vancouver Daily World'', May 2, 1923, p. 1 The APP barracks which was the scene of the crime is now a Provincial Historic Resource and an interpretive centre open to the public.


See also

*
Alberta Sheriffs Branch The Alberta Sheriffs Branch is a provincial law enforcement agency overseen by the Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services of the province of Alberta, Canada. Under the authority of the ''Peace Officer Act'', Alberta Sheriffs are provin ...
*
British Columbia Provincial Police The British Columbia Provincial Police (BCPP) was the provincial police service of British Columbia, Canada, between 1858 and 1950. One of the first law enforcement agencies in North America, the British Columbia Provincial Police was formed ...
* Saskatchewan Provincial Police


References


Bibliography

* * * * * * * {{Authority control Government agencies established in 1917 1932 disestablishments in Alberta Law enforcement agencies of Alberta
Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...
Defunct Alberta government departments and agencies Defunct law enforcement agencies of Canada 1917 establishments in Alberta Government agencies disestablished in 1932 Canadian provincial police