Kelowna, B.C., has the most RCMP officers in Canada but it’s thinking of ditching the force [Video]

Kelowna, B.C., which hosts the largest RCMP detachment in Canada, is exploring the possibility of ditching the national police force.

The city has issued a request for bids, seeking a company to conduct a review of its current policing model and compare it to a municipal police force.

The review will recommend the “optimal model” for Kelowna based on factors including value for service and capacity to meet future demands, the city said in procurement documents.

It follows a March report from the federal government that focused on “modernizing the RCMP” and suggested that the national police force begin transitioning away from providing contract policing to municipalities.

“The expiration of current Police Services Agreements in 2032 presents the first opportunity for implementing this next phase of policing in Canada,” the federal report said.

Kelowna is the largest city in B.C.’s Okanagan region and is “rapidly growing,” according to Kelowna community safety director Darren Caul. It …