A new call centre has been proposed for the Grande Prairie RCMP detachment to help reduce the amount of calls that go through Edmonton. Right now, all calls go through the Operational Communications Centre and then are dispatched locally. RCMP Municipal Administrator Eldon Wyant explains that this new centre would help local police answer lower priority calls and reduce the amount that go through Edmonton.
“Calls that require a police response but are not an emergency. For instance, if you noticed that you noticed someone had broken into your vehicle during the night, it is not an emergency because there is no body that is going to get hurt or that is in danger at that point.”
He says they would also be able to answer business calls in GP as well. All emergency calls would still be dispatched through the OCC. In order to make the new centre happen, Wyant says they will need additions to their radio system and possible recording capabilities.
“We’re trying to get things set up right now. The money that we are looking at right now is for infrastructure. We have some of that to put in. We are going to need some training. We are hoping to have it finished by Christmas time but it may be shortly after Christmas that we have it up and running.”
The City of Grande Prairie is looking to fund the $50,000 through capital tax from approved 2012 road overlays.