The City of Kamloops marked a historic milestone on Tuesday by officially swearing in 25 Community Services Officers with peace officer status during a ceremony held at City Council Chambers. This step strengthens the authority of bylaw officers and enhances their ability to serve the community and support local law enforcement.
Will Beatty, Community Services Manager, explained the importance of the new status, saying, “Peace officer status just solidifies and acknowledges the rights of our Community Services Officers within Kamloops. It means they have the legal authority to request identification from individuals suspected of municipal bylaw infractions. If someone fails to produce their ID, it can turn into a criminal offence.” Beatty also highlighted that officers are now able to serve summonses, which are official court documents requiring someone to appear in court.
This advancement follows last year’s adoption of the Delegation of Bylaw Enforcement Authority Bylaw by City Council, which expanded officers’ powers to include issuing bylaw notices, executing search warrants, and seizing property.
Though these Community Services Officers hold peace officer status, they remain focused on municipal bylaw enforcement and do not carry weapons. The new designation, however, provides important legal protections under the Criminal Code, particularly against assault or obstruction.
Beatty noted how the new officers will increase the department’s capacity, saying, “With 25 sworn in Tuesday and a second cohort coming soon, we’re confident we can respond more quickly to non-criminal calls. This helps free up police officers to focus on more serious crimes.”
The City plans to grow the program to approximately 40 officers, reaching a staffing level unseen in recent years. Beatty pointed out that the council’s commitment has allowed recruitment to funded numbers, which is already improving response times and community presence.
He also spoke about the partnership with the RCMP, saying, “We’ve had many good conversations with [Kamloops RCMP] Superintendent Jeff Pelley. This program supports police by handling lower-level enforcement, allowing them to concentrate on major investigations.” Beatty gave credit to Byron McCorkell, Chief Administrative Officer, stating, “CAO McCorkell was instrumental in bringing this program to where it is today.”
Looking ahead, Beatty said the City will review the program after some time, possibly within about a a year. “We’ll look at call volumes, how the public feels about the program, and response times to decide if we need to hire more Community Services Officers.”
With this new peace officer status and growing team, Kamloops aims to boost community safety and provide more effective municipal services.
