The provincial government is introducing legislation that would transition the Alberta Sheriffs to the new Alberta Sheriffs Police Service.
According to United Conservative Party officials, if passed, Bill 15, also known as the Public Safety and Emergency Services Statutes Amendment Act, would allow peace officers serving as Alberta sheriffs who perform police-like duties to become ASPS police officers. They would need to meet the training and qualification requirements under Alberta’s Police Act.
However, the province said the Alberta Sheriffs would not disappear. Sheriffs would remain in their current peace officer roles to ensure operational coverage continues during the transition.
Public Safety and Emergency Services Minister Mike Ellis said the changes are aimed at strengthening frontline policing in response to increasingly complex crime.
“Criminals are becoming more sophisticated, and we’re meeting that threat head-on by transforming the Alberta Sheriffs into a modern police service,” Ellis said. “We aren’t just filling gaps; we are building a coordinated powerhouse that puts law-abiding Albertans first and sends a clear message: if you threaten our communities, we have the specialized frontline capacity to stop you.”
Ellis said the transition is designed to build on the work sheriffs are already doing across the province.
“Our sheriffs are already performing police-like functions in many areas.”
“What this does is formalize that work into a province wide police service, with the proper governance and oversight structure in place.”
He added maintaining continuity of service is a key priority throughout the transition.
“There will be no disruption to public safety,” Ellis said. “Sheriffs will continue doing the jobs they’re doing today while those who meet the requirements can transition into the new police service.”
In its current form, the Alberta Sheriffs operate as government employees. Once the ASPS is established, it will function as an independent Crown corporation.
Bill 15 would allow both unionized and non-unionized staff to transition into the new organization while maintaining continuity of employment and preventing service disruptions.
In a statement, ASPS Chief Sat Parhar said integrating experienced sheriffs will accelerate the growth of the new service.
“Because sheriffs already perform many police-like functions, integrating them into the ASPS allows us to stand up the service faster and with a depth of experience that would take years to build through new hiring alone,” Parhar said.
The proposed amendments would also update the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, giving ASPS officers authority to enforce the act provincewide. The legislation, commonly known as the SCAN Act, is designed to shut down properties linked to criminal activity.
The government said the transition is intended to create a modern, provincewide police service while maintaining essential peace officer duties Albertans rely on daily.
The transfer to the ASPS would include peace officers, civilian staff and management positions. According to government officials, the Alberta Sheriffs employs approximately 1,200 people.
The province said employment stability for Alberta Sheriffs branch staff would be protected during and after the transition, with employees continuing under their current terms. The changes build on legislation passed last year allowing ASPS officers to form their own police association and negotiate future collective bargaining agreements.
