Protective Services Department – Municipal Enforcement

Presented at ARMAA – April 2023

Protective Services

• Municipal Enforcement – County Officers
• Fire Services
• Emergency Management
• Health and Safety

​

STAFFING

• 1 - Manager/Sgt. Protective & Emergency Services
• Also includes roles as Regional Fire Coordinator and Director of Emergency Management (DEM)
• 3 – Level 1 County Peace Officers
• 1 – Health and Safety Coordinator
• Full Time Administrative Assistant
• 2 - County Fire Chiefs – Round Hill Fire Department & Camrose County Regional Fire Service

​

​

Protective Services Organizational Chart

Municipal Enforcement - Authorities

The County Peace Officers operate under the authority of the Alberta Justice and Solicitor General to enforce the following Legislation:

• Traffic Safety Act,
• Gaming and Liquor Act,
• Animal Protection Act,
• Environmental Protection Act,
• Highway Development and Protection Act,
• Dangerous Goods Transportation & Handling Act
• Stray Animals Act,
• Petty Trespass Act,
• Provincial Offences Procedures Act
• and County Bylaws.

​

Municipal Enforcement  - Roles and Responsibilities

• Maintain current knowledge and understanding of Provincial legislation and County By-laws which are enforced daily;

​

• Patrol County roadway (local roads), the ten (10)

County Hamlets and the numerous subdivision located

within Camrose County;

​

• Patrol County Campgrounds to include, Tillicum Beach,

Pelican Point, Ferry Point, New Norway,

Ferintosh and the County Nature Conservation Center;

​

• Investigate all public complaints;

​

• Resolve rate payer concerns and advise them of their

obligations under existing legislation;

​

• Perform various public relation duties to include

presentations ie) DARE, Commercial Vehicle Safety,

BRRCW Meetings;

​

• Protect County infrastructure and enforce and

monitor gravel hauls and road bans; Report any road

safety concerns and advise the Public Works Department

of such;

​

• Conduct Commercial Vehicle and Dangerous Goods

Inspections as designated Inspectors appointed under

the Province of Alberta (Trained in Weights and

Dimensions);

​

​

​

​

Municipal Enforcement – Roles and Responsibilities continued………………………

• Establish and maintain a close working relationship with Camrose Police Service, Camrose/Wetaskiwin and Bashaw RCMP detachments, Fish and Wildlife Department, SPCA, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement/Sheriffs and other enforcement agencies within and outside of Camrose County.

​

• Assist other agencies with investigations as required and exchanging information as necessary; 

​

• Be proficient with the Public Security Peace Officer Program Policy and Procedures Manual;

​

• Shift work including weekends, including holidays and special events;

​

• Inspect all regulatory signage requests;

​

• Lay charges under appropriate legislation;

​

• Appear in court as a Crown witness;

​

• Maintain a record of all activities in a manner necessary to substantiate any court action required;

​

• Serve Stop Orders/Legal Documents on behalf of County business.

​

• Monitor and enforce Fire Permits/Fireworks Permits throughout Camrose County.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Municipal Enforcement

PROACTIVE POLICING, PATROLS AND VISIBILTY WITHIN CAMROSE COUNTY IS A MAIN PRIORITY.

​

Municipal Enforcement

The County Peace Officers are committed to serving the residents of Camrose County and surrounding Municipalities by providing effective proactive law enforcement and community-based policing.

County Officers are also committed to protecting Camrose County's interests including road infrastructure, parks, campgrounds, and liability concerns.

​

County Peace Officers are under a Fee for Service Contract to patrol the following Municipalities:

• Village of Edberg,
• Village of Bawlf, 
• Village of Bittern Lake, 
• Village of Hay Lakes 
• and the Town of Bashaw.

​

Public General Complaints – Municipal Enforcement

Investigating Complaints:

• When the County Officers receive complaints from the general public of alleged breaches of legislation, the Officers will investigate those breaches as thoroughly as time and resources allow and advise the complainant(s) of the outcome of the investigation.

​

• Over the last number of years, the number of complaints received by Protective Services from the public has seen a steady increase:
• - 2017 – 210 Official Complaints
• - 2018 – 231 Official Complaints
• - 2019 – 226 Official Complaints
• - 2020 – 264 Official Complaints
• - 2021 – 299 Official Complaints
• - 2022 – 319 Official Complaints

Public General Complaints (2022) - Municipal Enforcement

Complaint Procedure

Complaints received IN WRITING:

​

• Shall be acknowledged in writing, by phone call or by direct contact immediately following receipt thereof advising the complainant that their complaint will be investigated as soon as possible.

​

Complaints and requests received VERBALLY (Phone call into Protective Services)

​

• Shall be documented in writing, by Protective Services Staff, immediately at the time of the complainant’s phone call.

​

Complaints cannot be accepted if it is third party.

​

Example: Ratepayer complains to Councillors and then Councillors contact the Protective

Services Department on ratepayer’s behalf.

• Firsthand account of the complainant's information is required, as this ensures

complainant's transparency and accountability.

• Third party information may be taken out of context, may be incorrect or

misinterpreted.

​

​

When Councillors receive complaints from their ratepayers, please advise the ratepayer to contact the Protective Services Department directly. This will allow Protective Services staff to obtain the necessary information required in order to open a file and begin a proper investigation.

​

Office Hours - 1-780-672-4449

After hours complaint line: protserv@county.camrose.ab.ca

​

The after hours complaint line is monitored by the Officer or Officers on shift and the Sgt./Manager of Protective Services

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Information Required for an Official Complaint

• Name of the complainant, address and contact information
• Time and Date(s) of the incidents
• Location
• Information about the subject of the complaint (SOC) – (if known)
• Any relative information relating to the complaint.
• Descriptions of: Vehicles, plates, people, animals
• Any information you may find useful to aid in our investigations.
• Camrose County Officers and staff guarantee the complainant(s) will remain anonymous if they so choose.

​

​

• NOTE: All Protective Services: Files, Tickets, Summons and Court Matters are confidential and protected by the Freedom of Information Protection Act (FOIP).

​

​

​

Why Must the Complaint be Received Firsthand and Recorded in an Official File?

Farm Truck Check – Municipal Enforcement

• Camrose County Officers are certified as Commercial Vehicle Inspectors (CVSA). This designation allows Camrose County to host their annual farm truck check in the Spring for local residents and farmers. Because this is a free farm truck check, no vehicles are towed and no tickets are issued.
• Inspections include critical safety items such as brakes, steering, lights, frames, fuel systems and drive shafts to name a few.
• This Program has been a great success for the last nine years, as the amount of interest and involvement from local farmers and residents is consistent every year.
• There has been discussions about possibly hosting another farm truck check in the Fall prior to Harvest. No decision on this has been made.
• This program has no direct cost to the residents of Camrose County, however the manpower from the Officers and the Protective Services Admin. to book the venue, meet with sponsors, advertise and schedule the farm vehicles does take added time.

​

Camrose County Peace Officers will continue to ensure Commercial Vehicles and Farm Vehicles are operating on Alberta’s Highways and the County’s roadways in a safe manner, both mechanically and through Driver’s Fitness.

​

​

​

Animal (Dog) Control

• Old MacDonald Kennels (OMD), Old MacDonald Kennels is located on Hwy 53 approximately 15 minutes West of Hwy 21.  OMD Animal Control Officers are very professional and well equipped to pickup and shelter stray dogs.  OMD is a no kill shelter and are an excellent resource for Camrose County residence and the County Officers.
• Approved by the Manager/Sgt. of Protective Services, OMD Animal Control Officers conduct weekly patrols within Camrose County jurisdiction. The patrol schedule for Camrose County has been divided into three zones; a north, central and south zone.
• During these patrols, OMD Animal Control Officers will attend to complaints that the Protective Services Department has received regarding dangerous dogs or stray dogs that have wondered onto a resident's property. OMD will then remove the dog from the property and bring the dog back to OMD Kennels.
• Once a dog has been taken back to OMD Kennels, much of the time, OMD is able to locate the stray dog's owner(s). If the owner’s claim their dog, OMD charges a fee for Dog Running at Large and Impoundment Fees. If the owner(s) are unable to be located and all due diligence has been completed to locate the dog’s owner(s), OMD will then begin the adoption process and adopt the dog out.

​

​

Overweight and Over Dimensional Permits

• Camrose County’s Manager of Protective Services approvals all Overweight and Over-dimensional Permits that require travel through Camrose County and travel on Local Roads. When it comes to approving these type of permits, a working knowledge and training in Commercial Vehicles Weights and Dimensions is essential.
• Over the last couple years, permit applications/approvals in Camrose County are as follows:
• 2022 – 556 Permits Approved
• 2021 – 468 Permits Approved
• 2020 – 439 Permits Approved
• 2019 – 822 Permits Approved
• 2018 – 339 Permits Approved

​

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)

CPTED is a project and service the County Officers provide to Camrose County residents

​

• CPTED Basic is a three-day course (instructed by Edmonton Police Service) developed to introduce CPTED principals. This course focuses on reducing crime opportunities by modifying the environment.  
• County Officer meet with residents and educate them on how the physical environment can help protect their property and also how the physical environment has a direct relationship on human behavior.
• A couple of examples how the physical environment may prevent and deter potential crime:

- looking at how trees and shrubs are trimmed,

• adding lighting,
• yard cleanup,
• how certain items situated around a property could potential draw the attention of a possible thief; just to name a few.

​

​

​

​

Municipal Enforcement – Goals and Objectives

Municipal Enforcement - Questions