Applications open for Alberta Indigenous communities wanting to start police services

Indigenous and municipal communities in Alberta can now apply for one-time grants for community policing.

Applications for the grants, which go up to $30,000, opened last week.

The province’s community policing grant program was first announced in June.

We’re creating a new Community Policing Grant to support Indigenous communities and municipalities interested in establishing police services. Additional resources will also allow three First Nations police services to hire 15 new police officers. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/1eMAO0OCm7

— Alberta Government (@YourAlberta) June 23, 2022

Applicants are asked to present a business case to the province, highlight local needs and the capital required for developing their own self-administered police service.

When the grant was first announced, the province also pledged additional funding for 15 new police officers for the Blood Tribe, Tsuut’ina Nation, and Lakeshore Regional police services.

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Eligible First Nations communities, Metis Settlements, and municipalities can use this funding for expenses including staffing, consolation fees, and program administration, according to the province.

“Policing is better when leadership is provided locally, and First Nations in Alberta and across Canada deserve police services that are self-administered and responsive to their needs,” said Justice Minister Tyler Shandro in June

Those qualified to apply also include communities that have already begun the process of implementing a municipal or regional police service.