Town of Coaldale adds three peace officers to its team

The Town of Coaldale has added three new bylaw officers to its Municipal Enforcement team. Coaldale’s Municipal Enforcement Program was redesigned earlier this year following the conclusion of the three-year pilot program in 2019. Two of the officers have connections to the community.

Coaldale’s Town of Municipal Enforcement has added three new faces to the team. Over the last three-years, the Town of Coaldale and Coaldale & District Emergency Services conducted community engagement in 2020 to ensure that community needs were captured in the redesigned program.

Manager of Community Policing, Mark Anderson, added the new officers will be seen out in the community at different schools, visiting seniors homes, and interacting with the public. For the past 9 months, the Town has only employed one bylaw officer, with the new addition being added, Anderson says the workload will be split among the four.

Two of the three newly hired officers have ties to the community. Devon Nielsen grew up in Lethbridge, but has family living in Coaldale

Scott Elford previously worked as a firefighter with the Coaldale department for the past five years. Elford says he’ll be able to continue using his previous knowledge in his new role as an officer.

Also added to the team was Alan Nilsson. 

The officers will deal with general complaints and unsightly properties and in the fall, the trio will head up north to complete their Community Peace Officer training.