RCMP Suspends Investigations Across Exshaw & Dead Man’s Flats

What’s Happening? The Cochrane RCMP detachment, which serves the MD of Bighorn and much of the eastern Bow Valley, has been struggling with a significant staffing shortage since June. The situation is serious enough that general investigative work has been temporarily suspended, meaning officers are now focusing mainly on emergency calls and active incidents rather than follow-ups or lower-priority cases.

Why It Matters? This detachment covers a wide area, including Exshaw, Benchlands, Ghost Lake, and Dead Man’s Flats, and is responsible for both traffic enforcement and criminal investigations. With fewer officers on shift, residents are already noticing longer response times and reduced visibility in their communities.

Councillors at the Nov 12th MD of Bighorn meeting called the situation “unsustainable,” noting that officers have been working overtime for months just to maintain minimum coverage. The shortage is not unique to Cochrane either. Rural RCMP detachments across Alberta are competing for limited recruits, with vacancies and transfers piling up faster than new hires can replace them.

What’s Being Done? Council plans to raise the issue directly with RCMP leadership during the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) Fall Convention, taking place November 17–20 in Edmonton, where local officials will meet with provincial representatives and law enforcement leaders. They will be asking for:

• A timeline for restoring full staffing at the Cochrane detachment.

• Clarity on which services remain affected, including investigations, traffic patrols, and community policing.

• A plan from Alberta’s RCMP headquarters to improve rural staffing levels and restore full police coverage by 2026.

The MD also plans to formally write to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services, outlining how these gaps impact safety and service delivery in the Bow Valley corridor.

Bigger Picture. RCMP staffing shortages have been building for years as retirements outpace recruitment and new officers take longer to train and deploy. Rural detachments like Cochrane feel the impact most, with vacancies staying open longer and fewer officers covering larger areas.

For smaller jurisdictions like Bighorn, it’s a reminder that even well-funded municipalities depend on federal resources they don’t directly control. Until staffing levels improve, residents may notice fewer patrols and slower response times. For now, council says it is pressing Ottawa and Edmonton for answers.