Stats Canada says Alberta has one of the lowest rates of police officers per 100,000 people

While it may sound like a lot, Alberta only has 170 police officers for every 100,000 people, one of the lowest rates in the nation according to Stats Canada.

Officials are crediting the low number to the tough economic times in Alberta.

Calgary Police spokesperson Kevin Brookwell said the chief has been hearing from those on the front line and realizes the workload is up.

“The biggest priority that we have going on right now through our organization is getting as many officers as we can out on that frontline handing that increase in call load,” Brookwell said.

Brookwell said they’re looking for efficiencies and trying to do their best with what they have.

“There is a lot of good partnerships that we have right now where we can leverage, the great relationships we have with communities and other entities I think we’re looking internally how we are operating,” he said. “Some of the great programs that maybe in place now, we just might have to put on hold as we kind of work through, certainly for folks in Calgary, Edmonton and Alberta they know what this is like right now.”

The local force announced earlier this year it was moving their officers and closing community stations in Braeside and Riverbend.

Some of the cost-cutting moves have drawn the opposition of one city councillor Diane Colley-Urquhart, who said it flies in the face of community policing.