The City of Kelowna will look at the feasibility of transitioning to a municipal police force.

On May 14, the city issued a request for qualifications, seeking a consultant to conduct a Police Services Model Review. This review will evaluate the current RCMP model against a potential municipal police service, focusing on value for service, governance structures, responsiveness to community needs, and capacity to meet future demands.

乌鸦传媒淲hen we look at our overall capital costs and our budgets, we want to ensure that taxpayers are receiving the best value for the money,乌鸦传媒� said Mayor Tom Dyas.

The review comes at a time of significant growth and rising public safety costs in Kelowna. Policing costs have more than doubled over the past decade. In 2020, the RCMP budget was $34 million. That rose to $48 million in 2023 and jumped to $70 million in 2024. The number of RCMP members has increased from 183 in 2019 to 244 in 2025.

The city's 2025 budget, totaling just over $900 million, allocates more than $100 million to police, fire, and bylaw services.

Despite the financial considerations, Mayor Dyas emphasized the city乌鸦传媒檚 respect for the RCMP. 乌鸦传媒淚t's important to recognize that we continue to have complete confidence in and deepest respect for the RCMP and everything they do,乌鸦传媒� he said.

The mayor added that Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 rapid growth, the size of its RCMP detachment, and council乌鸦传媒檚 focus on crime and safety prompted city council, with support from the mayor乌鸦传媒檚 task force on crime, to initiate the review.

Currently, under the federal policing contract, municipalities with more than 15,000 residents are responsible for 90 per cent of RCMP costs, with the federal government covering the remaining 10 per cent. , and a recent federal report, , has signalled a shift away from contract policing.

The regional policing structure in the Central Okanagan is also undergoing change. The RCMP is decentralizing operations into three commands: Kelowna, Lake Country, and West Kelowna/Peachland. Once completed, Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 detachment will be one of the largest standalone RCMP operations in the country.

Mayor Dyas said the city has been clear and open about the review process.

乌鸦传媒淭here's good collaboration,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淚've had my opportunity to meet with Minister Begg (Public Safety and Solicitor General) and inform him, so he is aware. The RCMP are aware.乌鸦传媒�

The city has budgeted $250,000 for the review, with the possibility of allocating an additional $100,000 if needed. Darren Caul, Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 Director of Community Safety and Crime Prevention, will be responsible for overseeing the process on behalf of the city.

乌鸦传媒淒arren Caul, (Director of Community Safety and Crime Prevention), will be carrying this process for the city and will come back in early 2026,乌鸦传媒� Dyas said. 乌鸦传媒淲e will have an outline, but it's a review of what's truly best for the community, not that there's any overarching concerns.乌鸦传媒�

He pointed out that other communities across the country have done, or are currently conducting, reviews of their policing services.

乌鸦传媒淲e all understand the contracts that potentially may or may not continue in 2032. So it would be almost irresponsible for us to not make certain that we look at doing these, but we look at doing them in a professional manner where it's very transparent and open and working alongside all the different parties.乌鸦传媒�

Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 review is expected to be completed by early 2026.