Bill 15 takes additional steps to operationalize the Alberta Sheriffs Police Service
On February 24, 2026, the Government of Alberta (GOA) announced Bill 15, the Public Safety and Emergency Services Statutes Amendment Act, 2026, which is intended to make changes that enable the Alberta Sheriffs Police Service (ASPS) to continue towards becoming a policing agency.
If passed, the main component of the new legislation is that peace offices who currently perform police-like duties will soon be eligible to pursue careers as Alberta Sheriff Police Service (ASPS) officers, subject to training and qualification requirements.
There continues to be concerns regarding the recruitment and retention of frontline police officers throughout the province, especially in rural areas. While Bill 15 enables the transition of current peace officers into the ASPS, it is unclear how this decision will lead to an increase in the number of frontline officers in rural areas.
If passed, Budget 2026 commits an additional $37 million to ASPS operations. RMA will continue to monitor this for more details on allocation of funds.
For a full breakdown of the history of the ASPS, please refer to this RMA Member Resource.
RMA will continue to monitor the transition to an ASPS and will inform members of any updates.
Kallie Wischoff
Policy Advisor
825.319.2245
kallie@rmalberta.com
Wyatt Skovron
General Manager of Policy & Advocacy
780.955.4096
wyatt@rmalberta.com