With persistent fears over rural crime, one Lacombe city councillor thinks a discussion about Lacombe Police serving the county is coming in the future.

Coun. Reuben Konnik sits on the city’s police commission. In a written report back to council, he said the municipal force is held up as a success due to the city’s low crime rates and quick dispatch system.

“There has been a lot of discussion about the future of policing especially as it pertains to rural policing. Some in the county wonder why the Lacombe police service couldn’t service the county as they would be quicker than the RCMP,” Konnik wrote.

In a later interview, the councillor said the issue has not made its way onto the political agenda yet. But he believes that with higher orders of government mandating inter-municipal collaboration in areas like transportation and utilities, it’s only a matter of time before policing is considered as well.

“I would not be surprised that within five years, you see this real push where the province, or even the feds, recognize that maybe there’s a better model out there and maybe regionalization is a way to go where you have these regional hubs that could do a far better job. There’s more and more buzz about that,” Konnik said.

Sunny 94 has reached out to Lacombe County for comment.