Increased demands from the justice system have reduced the efficiency of police officers and contributed to the need for more resources at the St. Albert RCMP detachment.
That was the message behind an informal report to city council Monday.
More onerous recordkeeping required to secure convictions has made police investigations far more complex and time-consuming than they were 30 years ago, explained Insp. Warren Dosko.
"In lots of industries people are becoming more efficient … policing has gone backwards," he said.
The police are seeking to create two new file reviewer positions to reduce the workload at the detachment. Council granted the request during the 2011 budget deliberations but held back the money subject to a more detailed justification, which was the purpose of Monday's presentation.
It's police practice to have every report reviewed by an experienced investigator to ensure it was done properly, Dosko said. He hopes to fill the new municipal positions with retired officers, which would cost less than hiring active officers.
Analysis done for an RCMP study shows the average time spent on investigations has increased, Dosko said.
A case of domestic assault, for example, used to take an average of one hour to investigate and now takes 10 to 12 hours, he said. The average for impaired driving has increased from one hour to five.
Several members of council questioned the practice of reviewing every file.
"Your argument is not that compelling but maybe it's my ignorance," said Coun. Wes Brodhead.
Dosko insisted the reviews are a necessary part of police work.
"It's a critical piece for the integrity of policing," he said.
Moving violations are the most common complaint fielded by local police, Dosko said. This category can include activities like erratic driving or speeding.
Coun. Cam MacKay wondered why police respond to these calls when the perpetrators will likely be gone by the time police arrive.
"To me that's wasted time," he said. "Aren't there any activities we can cut out or get the public to stop calling in about?"
Reducing response levels would bring public backlash, said Chris Jardine, general manager of community and protective services.
"I'm not hearing anybody say we shouldn't respond to things," he said.
Space crunch
The police also explained a request for leased office space to alleviate overcrowding at the current detachment.
A consultant's study showed the detachment is 25 per cent over capacity. After investigating ways to expand the building Jardine was surprised to learn that its design and placement makes expansion virtually impossible, he said.
The current detachment is just 10 years old but was designed to provide space for 10 years worth of growth, he said.
"It was shortsighted, in retrospect," noted city manager Bill Holtby.
A new building that would meet the police's long-term needs would cost in the range of $30 million to $40 million, according to RCMP land services experts, Dosko said.
In seeking outside space, the department first considered the former RCMP building downtown, now known as the Hemingway Centre, Jardine said.
While it's a good location, it would require about $1.5 million in renovations and would only provide adequate space for one to three years, he said.
He's looking to lease space that will accommodate about 30 people now and provide for 10 years worth of growth while the city works on a longer-range plan.
Next steps
Council didn't make any decisions Monday. Administration will present some recommendations for formal debate at a future council meeting.
