Calgary police seek 523 new positions through 2030 as call complexity and violence surge
Police Commission is asking city council for funding to hire 309 officers and 214 support staff, citing a 12-hour period in September with 915 emergency calls and rising firearm involvement.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
Calgary's Police Commission is seeking significantly increased funding from city council to add 523 positions—309 police officers and 214 technical and support staff—over the 2027–2030 budget period, citing surging demand and the growing complexity of emergency calls.
At Wednesday's commission meeting, Police Chief Katie McLellan presented a mid-year report showing the strain on frontline resources. "Policing is becoming more complex," McLellan said. "We are seeing increase in demand, more serious violence, growing firearm involvement and continue pressures on frontline resources as our city continues to grow."
Deputy Chief Cliff O'Brien illustrated the volume with data from a single 12-hour period on September 15 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.: officers responded to 915 calls for service, averaging 76 calls per hour. Of those 915 calls, at least 330 required two or more police units, and some took several hours to resolve. "Although the volume of calls is significant, I think what stands out, as the chief mentioned, is really the complexity of some of these calls," O'Brien said.
The 2027 hiring goal is 135 officers; so far, 77 have been hired. Meanwhile, staffing challenges persist. Six per cent of members are on leave and 13 per cent are on accommodation (alternative work)—unchanged from a year ago. Of those off regular duties, 80 per cent are dealing with physical injuries sustained on the job and 20 per cent with psychological concerns. During summer, 37 members returned to regular work, but 37 others went on leave or accommodations during the same period.
Commission chair Amtul Siddiqui framed the ask around proactive policing: "The new officers will create more capacity for proactive policing such as traffic enforcement, proactive patrols and crime prevention." The chief added that officers and support staff are well-trained and well-supported, noting ongoing investments in technology including a drone pilot program that has cancelled roughly 13 per cent of calls. But the funding gap remains: the commission is seeking the full complement to meet rising demand and reduce the reliance on injured or exhausted staff.
What is the total cost of the 523-position request over 2027–2030, and what is city council's projected capacity to fund it?
How does Calgary's police-to-population ratio compare to peer cities, and does the 523-position increase bring it in line with national standards?
Why has the leave and accommodation rate remained flat at 19 per cent for a year despite the chief's stated investments in member support?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
How many new positions is Calgary's Police Commission requesting?
Calgary's Police Commission is seeking 523 new positions over the 2027–2030 budget period: 309 police officers and 214 technical and support staff.
How many emergency calls did Calgary police respond to in a single 12-hour period?
On September 15, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., officers responded to 915 calls for service, averaging 76 calls per hour.
What percentage of Calgary police officers are currently on leave or accommodation?
Nineteen per cent of Calgary police members are on leave or accommodation: 6 per cent on leave and 13 per cent on alternative work arrangements.
How much has a drone pilot program reduced emergency calls?
Calgary's police drone pilot program has cancelled roughly 13 per cent of calls.
