Calgary Police Seek 309 More Officers Over Four Years, Warning Budget Shortfall Would Hit Public Safety

Calgary Police Chief Katie McLellan asked city council on October 29 for 523 new positions over the next four years, including 309 police officers and 214 civilian employees. The Canadian Press reported the request, which comes as the service says population growth and more complex calls are stretching front-line capacity; council will discuss the budget in the coming weeks, with final decisions expected in November.

The budget numbers

Under the proposal, the annual operating budget would grow from $684.5 million in 2026 to $816.7 million by 2030, an increase of 19 percent. Capital spending of $191.9 million over the four-year period would be 73 percent higher than the previous budget. McLellan told a Thursday news conference the service had put forward only its highest-priority positions and line items: “If we could ask for more of a budget increase we would, but we've taken a responsible, disciplined approach to ensure we can actually deliver on our ask.”

The chief's warning

McLellan said Calgary is already falling behind as it deals with population growth, an increase in shootings, fatal collisions and more mental health and addiction calls, while complex incidents can tie up large numbers of officers for extended periods. She stressed enforcement alone will not solve these problems: “These are not issues we will arrest our way out of.” If the proposal is not fully funded, she warned, fewer officers would be available for low-priority in-person incidents and community policing would shrink: “I don't want to paint a bleak picture but if this budget proposal is not fully funded there will be major impacts to Calgarians' safety and perception of safety.”

What happens next

The request will form part of Calgary's 2027–2030 budget deliberations. How council balances policing needs against pressure on taxpayers will decide the outcome in November; this site will follow up once council decides.