A severe shortage of local peace officers has left the Municipal District of Opportunity struggling to control heavy commercial trucks, sparking intense frustration at the council table.

Two years after launching its community peace officer program, the municipality currently has only one active officer patrolling the region. The lack of enforcement staff means the local government is having a hard time keeping up with community safety demands.

During the Sept. 14 regular council meeting, elected officials expressed their deep frustration over ongoing hiring delays. Councillor Darlene Jackson noted that the community’s biggest concern right now is heavy commercial trucks. She suggested that if officers were properly trained, they could conduct mobile traffic stops to manage the safety risk.

Deputy Reeve Brendan Powell also expressed his frustration over the pace of recruitment.

“I would like to see some locals hired,” Powell said, noting the program has been running for about two years with limited results.

Without a fully staffed enforcement department, the municipality does not have the manpower to conduct regular mobile traffic stops or properly monitor these massive trucks.

Municipal administration explained that building a reliable enforcement team has been an uphill battle. Officials noted that they want to hire people who are truly capable of doing the job, rather than just filling a vacant position.

While local candidates are always prioritized for these jobs, administration said it has been tough to retain recruits. For example, one candidate made the shortlist but ultimately backed out.

The single active officer currently on duty has military police experience, but is stretched thin. While another recruit is waiting in the investigative process and a third could potentially start soon, training and onboarding take significant time.

To make matters more complicated, pulling over heavy commercial trucks requires specialized provincial certifications. The municipality sent a request to the provincial government asking for approval to enforce additional provincial acts, but administration warned that the province might not approve it until the municipality can prove its officers are properly trained.

The municipality plans to post local job advertisements again in Wabasca, hoping to find qualified local candidates who have a vested interest in keeping their community safe.

Until those empty roles are filled, the municipality will continue relying on its lone active officer to manage the traffic, answer resident complaints, and enforce local bylaws across the district.

Armaan Khanna

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter