(JOHN MCDONALD / iNFOnews.ca)

Kelowna now hosts the country's largest RCMP detachment after Surrey's move away from the national police force, but the city is now exploring its options and considering whether to follow suit.

Kelowna city hall is looking for a consultant to weigh whether it should keep contracting RCMP or transition to a municipal police force.

It comes as the detachment, a hub for Central Okanagan policing, becomes "de-regionalized" over the next year. Once complete, it will result in "mainly autonomous operations" in Peachland, West Kelowna and Lake Country, according to city documents.

As Kelowna continues to grow and the federal government's new vision of policing advocates for a transition away from municipal RCMP contracts, the City is looking for the "optimal" law enforcement model.

READ MORE: Sicamous bridge blockade lifted after talks between First Nations and construction companies

"City council has invested in public safety at unprecedented levels in recent years," procurement documents read, noting RCMP costs have doubled in the last decade and currently take up just over a quarter of annual taxation.

By hosting a regional policing hub, Kelowna has come to host the country's largest single RCMP detachment in a province with the largest contingent of Mounties.

A consultant is expected to compare the current RCMP contract with municipal policing models, taking into account the value for service, governance structure, responsiveness to the community and growth capacity.

READ MORE: Penticton RCMP officers lie in court, evidence tossed in prolific offender case

Municipal forces tend to be more costly, in part because cities over 15,000 people lose the 10 per cent federal funding contribution, but they are also more directly accountable to local governments. Not including Surrey, there are 11 municipal police forces in BC, each governed by local police boards.

But, a potential move away from RCMP may not be easy. Though it was delayed by attempts to reverse course, Surrey's controversial transition left the city with millions in costs and a years-long effort to shift policing to the new local department.

The consulting contract, set at a maximum $350,000, sets a Feb. 26, 2026, deadline to return with a final report. The work should begin in July.

— The headline on this story was amended at 12:46 p.m. May 16, 2025. 

To contact a reporter for this story, email Levi Landry or call 250-819-3723 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here.

News from © iNFOnews, 2025