UPDATE: Mayor 'furious' at news of police college cancellation

Despite years of promises and planning, the province has decided to cancel a police college that was set to be built in Fort Macleod.

Officials said police agencies from across Alberta were asked to provide feedback on how they expected to use the facility, after concerns were raised to the ministry. That input prompted officials to decide that a stand-alone facility would not be used enough to be financially viable.

“This was an extremely tough decision,” Jonathan Denis, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General said in a news release. “But in the end, Albertans expect their tax dollars to be invested wisely and the government is committed to this goal.”

The feedback the government got indicated that larger police forces, such as those in Calgary and Edmonton, are confident that their own training facilities provide exceptional training.

“The quality of training for Edmonton police will be maintained through our current facilities and programs, including a new facility recently approved for north Edmonton,” said Edmonton Police Chief Rod Knecht.

Calgary’s police chief said that as both a police officer and a taxpayer, he believes the government made the right decision.

“I’m just incredibly grateful that the government listened to the police and said ‘OK you know what, that makes sense.’ If the government were to invest $100 million dollars in a police college and then a year from now there’s a decrease in the service provided… they could rightfully turn to us and say ‘we just invested $100 million in a police college, we don’t have any extra money for these other needs.’”

Denis said the province would still like to standardize training for police and peace officers, but said it will be accomplished through curriculum.

However, the mayor of Fort Macleod says he is furious at the news, that comes just two months after the contract to build the college was awarded.

“For one of the few times in my life, I’m at a loss for words,” said Shawn Patience. “I don’t think furious would even begin to describe the emotions that are going through me right now.”

Back in July, the mayor of Fort Macleod received word that construction on the centre would begin immediately, and was scheduled for completion by August 2014. Plans to build the college had been underway since 2005.

The project would have cost the province $122 million dollars. So far, nearly $2 million dollars has been spent.