After nearly three years at the helm of the Drumheller RCMP detachment, Detachment Commander Staff Sergeant Rob Harms has announced that he will transfer to a new detachment area as of Tuesday, April 22.
The transfer will see S/Sgt Harms transferred to the Brooks RCMP detachment, a location he has previously served and which will bring him closer to where his family is located.
“I am proud to say that I served in Drumheller and surrounding area,” S/Sgt Harms tells the Mail. “All the people I worked with, including the partnership agencies, elected officials, and the public were great and good to me and the detachment; the support is always appreciated, and a key part of policing.”
S/Sgt Harms joined the Drumheller RCMP detachment in November 2022, and has helped to set up some new services at the local detachment level.
In September 2023, the Victim Services Unit was reinstated after its precursor collapsed. The team has since worked in conjunction with the province since the province took over all Victim Services Units across Alberta in October 2024 to ensure victims continue to have their needs met during difficult times.
Another program that was initiated while the detachment was under the command of S/Sgt Harms is the Regional Police and Crisis Team (RPACT) which provides services of an officer and a psychiatric nurse to better serve those in the community who are struggling with a mental health crisis or emotional distress.
Throughout his short time at the detachment, S/Sgt Harms says he is also proud of the increased transparency and public engagement that he and local officers have done through holding more Town Hall and Open House meetings.
In honour of the RCMP’s 150th anniversary, the local detachment worked with local Drumheller resident Larry Coney to set up a historical exhibit in July 2023 at the Badlands Community Facility (BCF), which received a lot of feedback and initiated interactions with the public.
S/Sgt Harms’ transfer was finalized on Tuesday, April 22, and he shares through consultation with the public the policing priorities for the 2025-2026 fiscal year have been set-these will remain the same as last year, with officers focusing on Crime Reduction with a focus on Property Crime; Drug Enforcement and Awareness; public engagement, accountability, and police visibility; and road and traffic safety.
“I am excited to see whom the next Commander will be, and what they do going forward,” he shares, noting a new Commander often brings new perspectives, techniques, and ideas to the table.
Corporal Alex MacDonald will take on the role of Acting Commander until such time as the RCMP’s K-Division finalizes identifying and filling the role at the local detachment.