The Edmonton Police Commission (Commission) acknowledges that policing, crime, and safety transcends municipal, provincial and national boundaries. It is critical that the Edmonton Police Service (Service) be a valuable and reliable partner to external law enforcement partners, both in Canada and internationally.
The Commission is legally responsible for the provision of adequate and effective police services within the City of Edmonton (City). When external agencies request police or civilian assistance and/or resources from the Service the request must be consistent with the provisions of the Police Act. These requests can only be performed to the extent where they do not significantly impact the adequate and effective provision of policing services to the City or result in significant fiscal implications.
Definitions
Policing assistance: as referenced in this policy means a request to supply sworn officers from the Service to perform policing duties or offer assistance in another jurisdiction in response to an event or incident that exceeds 12 hours in length. Requests from external agencies can also include, but are not limited to, vehicles, radios, or other specialized police resources.
Civilian assistance: as referenced in this policy means a request to use civilian employees from the Service to offer assistance to an external agency in response to a single event, project, incident, or task that exceeds 36 hours in length. Requests from external agencies include any services performed by civilian employees on behalf of, or to, an external agency.
Recurring assistance requests: requests for sworn or civilian assistance that are repeatedly for the same event, project, incident, or task must be identified and the approval process set out in this policy followed.
Guidelines:
- The Chief of Police (Chief) shall notify the Commission of any requests from the Service to provide policing assistance outside the municipal boundaries of the City in writing, unless stated otherwise in the provisions below.
- The Chief shall notify the Commission of any requests of the Service to provide civilian assistance to an external agency in writing, unless stated otherwise in the provisions below.
- Approval must be received from the Commission prior to any agreement for policing or civilian assistance being entered into. Agreements may be in the form of a formal contract, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), or another form of formalized agreement.
- Prior to allocating resources to explore a MOU or other formal agreement for the provisions of assistance under this policy, the Service may bring forward a memo setting out the proposal, at high level, to test with the Commission their openness to proceeding.
- Where there are exigent circumstances, such as but not limited to, an emergency event or incident, the notification and approval process may be done verbally provided both are confirmed in writing as soon as reasonably practicable.
- Verbal notification shall be made to the Chair of the Commission (Chair), or their designate, who shall have the authority to give their approval on behalf of the Commission if deemed appropriate.
- Guidelines 3 and 4 do not apply in the event the Minister decides to enact section 33(1) of the Police Act where the Minister may at any time with the consent of the Chair of a police service that is established under section 24 or 27 direct a police officer of that police service to serve in any part of Alberta that is outside the boundaries of the area for which the Commission is responsible.
- The Chair will be responsible for providing an update to the Commission should they receive verbal notification under Guideline 5 or 6.
- Exemption: This policy does not apply to civilian assistance related to government mandated or implemented IT systems such as shared software or other shared technical systems, provided the work being done is demonstrably required and necessary for the Service.
- Requests for sworn or civilian assistance that are repeatedly for the same event, project, incident, or task must be identified and the approval process set out in this policy followed.
References:
- Police Act, RSA 2000, c P-17
Revised February 19, 2026