Kelowna to study potential switch from RCMP to municipal policing
'As Kelowna continues to grow rapidly, and with the RCMP policing contract for municipalities set to expire in 2032, this review is a responsible step to ensure we are delivering the best value to taxpayers and planning effectively for the future needs of our city,' said Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas.
The city has allocated $250,000 for a Police Services Model review that will begin this summer.
'Crime and safety remain top priorities for this council,' Dyas said. 'We continue to have full confidence in, and deep respect for, the dedicated members of the RCMP who serve our community.'
The city's policing costs have grown substantially in the last decade with the budget more than doubling to $57 million for 2025.
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Kelowna RCMP would not comment on the study and potential switch to a municipal police force.
Kelowna residents Global News spoke to seemed open to at least exploring the idea.
'I know people are concerned about community safety, so I suspect the city wants to do the best it can to figure out the best way to provide that,' said resident Debbie Hubbard. 'I just think hiring a consultant, doing a good analysis is a good idea.'
'I think all ideas are usually worth exploring,' said Nolan Gamble. 'Even if it doesn't go through, hopefully we will find the best solution for us specifically. But yeah, can't hurt looking into it at least.'
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Crime has been at the forefront for many Kelowna residents and business owners for years.
While past reports have shown crime increasing in the Central Okanagan city, Kelowna RCMP have recently reported the overall crime rating in 2024 dropped compared to 2023.
1:57
Property crime rate dropping in Kelowna
In March, the force presented its annual statistics to city council, which showed property crime went down by two per cent with the crime severity index dropping by seven per cent.
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According to the RCMP report, the decrease in property crime is attributed to fewer break and enters and bike thefts.
Police stated business break-ins were down by 55 per cent in 2024 compared to the year before.
However, organizations that represent local businesses reported a bit of a different story.
'The anecdotal reports from members haven't varied much in the past two years,' stated the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce in an email to Global News.
The Downtown Kelowna Association (DKA) said that it has seen somewhat of an improvement but added that businesses continue being plagued by vandalism, such as graffiti and smashed windows, shoplifting and break-ins.
'There's been an issue the whole time I have been sitting in this chair,' said DKA executive director Mark Burley, who has been in his role for ten years. 'It's not overly prevalent but it's happening almost daily.'
Michael Neill owns Mosaic Books and said crime is so frequent, he has started keeping a log of repeat offenders and the crime incidents.
'It's an ongoing issue,' Neill said. 'We have broken windows that keep being replaced, very expensive. We had a fire at the back in February that cost us a few thousand bucks to straighten out.'
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If Kelowna did decide to switch to municipal policing, it would follow in the path of the City of Surrey, where the controversial process dragged on for years before it was finalized last year.
'There's benefits and there's going to be also detriments to that happening and that is why a study needs to be done,' Burley said.
According to the city, the study should be completed early 2026.
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