RCMP officers in Rocky Mountain House and Clearwater County will soon be equipped with body-worn cameras, part of an initiative aimed at increasing transparency and public trust, the local detachment announced.
Staff Sgt. Stephanie Lefsyk said the rollout, initially expected in March, is slightly behind schedule but will be moving forward shortly.
“We do have our body-worn cameras coming to Rocky Mountain House,” Lefsyk said. “This is not about spying on people — it’s about accountability and strengthening transparency.”
The body cameras will be worn by officers during public interactions and enforcement activities, and community engagement efforts will accompany the launch to address questions and provide clarity on how the devices will be used.
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In its presentation, the RCMP delegation say the cameras aim to achieve four goals:
- Strengthening transparency, accountability and public trust
- Resolving public complaints more quickly
- Improving interactions between the public and police
- Improve evidence gathering
It was November 2024 when the RCMP began its national deployment of the cameras, with the goal of getting them on 1,000 more members each month.
That would mean more than 90 per cent of the force, across Canada, would have a camera attached by November 2025, with full deployment complete by sometime in early- to mid-2026.
The RCMP also announced a new non-emergency reporting line, 310-RCMP, now active across Alberta. The line connects callers directly to the dispatch centre, helping reduce pressure on the 911 system.
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“I haven’t spread a ton of information on it yet — it’s been a bit slower coming out than I expected,” said Lefsyk, adding that the service is available 24/7, even when the local detachment is closed.
In a push toward greater community outreach, the Rocky Mountain House RCMP is also now “Facebook official,” launching a new page to share media releases, public safety alerts, and community news.
“It’s only taken a year, but we’re up and running,” said Lefsyk. “It’ll be a great way to engage with the public and share information directly.”
You can find the link to the new Facebook page here.
Lefsyk also added the local RCMP detachment will also be rolling out a positive ticket campaign. Similar to a program already adopted by Rocky Mountain House Community Peace Officers (CPO), the program rewards local children and youth with prizes when they’re “caught” doing something positive like wearing their bike helmet, using a crosswalk, or helping a neighbor.
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