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Professional. Committed. Community-Focused.
Athabasca County Protective Services represents a cornerstone of our municipality’s dedication to public safety, accountability and community well-being. Operating under a mandate set forth by Athabasca County’s Council, empowered by both provincial legislation and municipal bylaws, our Community Peace Officers provide a professional, measured and service-first approach to public safety.
Community Peace Officers serve as visible and accessible representatives of Athabasca County, working collaboratively with partner agencies, such as Athabasca County Fire Services, Athabasca and Boyle RCMP, Alberta Sheriffs, Alberta Fish & Wildlife, Alberta Forestry and multiple municipalities in the region. Together, we share a unified goal: To build safe, healthy and resilient communities through education, prevention, presence and enforcement.
Our officers are provincially appointed and carry authority under a vast range of statutes and regulations, including but not limited to:
With jurisdictions spanned throughout Athabasca County, the Village of Boyle, multiple summer villages and neighbouring municipalities, and a memorandum of understanding in place, Athabasca County Peace Officers operate with professionalism and purpose in the region. Whether conducting proactive patrols, responding to calls for service, participating in community engagement or supporting multi-agency operations, our officers are trained to act with discretion, fairness and respect.
What sets Athabasca County Peace Officers apart is our unwavering commitment to community engagement and community-based policing. Officers regularly participate in:
Through this visible and proactive presence, our Community Peace Officers foster trust, build partnerships and help create a shared sense of security across the region.
Athabasca County Peace Officers are trusted professionals, dedicated to advancing public safety through accountability, community collaboration and service excellence.
Check our facebook page.
Athabasca County Protective Services responds to select provincial statutes and bylaw complaints throughout the County. Please review the information below before submitting.
Please Note:
If your complaint involves a criminal matter, threat, or weapon, call 911 or contact your local RCMP detachment:
You may be asked to provide a sworn statement and be required to attend court. If charges are laid, your name may be disclosed during the legal process.
Reporting an Animal
Lost or found animals can be reported to the Peace Officer Dispatch line at 780-675-4022 or to the County office during regular operating hours at 780-675-2273. When reporting an animal to Athabasca County Enforcement Services, we ask that you provide the following information:
The caller must provide updates to the County once the pet has been put on the County Facebook page and website.
If you have a concern for the health of a dog or have reason to believe an animal is being abused, you can contact Alberta SPCA at 1-800-451-5927.
If you are missing a pet, you can check the Athabasca County Facebook page to see if there are any recently found pets. When the owner of the pet is found, the posting will be updated and indicate so.
Currently, Athabasca County does not have a bylaw for cats. As the County does not regulate cats, nor does it have the facilities to handle stray cats, cat concerns are to be directed to SCARS at 780-466-7227 or through their website.
Reported lost animals can be found below. If the page is empty, there are currently no animals reported.
Additional Information
With an influx of animals requiring housing, many animal rescue facilities, vet clinics and boarding facilities have become overwhelmed and at capacity. The facilities, including the agencies, that Athabasca County Enforcement Services utilizes to assist with dog complaints are overcapacity and cannot lodge dogs that are found at large or picked up by concerned members of the public.
We ask that members of the public DO NOT pick up dogs they see running at large. There is a lot of risk to personal safety and the safety of the animal when doing so. Athabasca County does not have an animal shelter to facilitate those dogs found.
If you see a dog on the shoulder, near the highway or on a county road we ask that you, again, do NOT attempt to pick up the dog. Safety is our priority. By stopping your vehicle and attempting to pick up a dog, the risk of a collision grows exponentially. There is also a risk of the dog being scared or startled which could result in a defensive dog bite or the dog running into the path of a motor vehicle.
In addition, there are occasions when a dog has simply wandered off some distance from the owner’s property. Try to be aware if there are any residences nearby that the animal may have come from before reporting it. Although good-intentioned, individuals who overlook this detail sometimes make the dog to then go missing.
If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact Athabasca County Enforcement Services at 780-675-2273 or send an email to protectiveservices@athabascacounty.com
Athabasca County utilizes Bike Index to return found and stolen bikes to their owners.
Simply register your bike in the database and if your bike goes missing and is later found, it will be easily returned to you.
The Boyle and Athabasca RCMP Detachments, in partnership with Athabasca County Peace Officers, are sharing information with property owners to help them apply principles of crime prevention through environmental design. The concept involves several methods of reducing opportunities for crime where the focus shifts from the criminal element to that of the environment of the potential victim.
This concept is based on three overlapping strategies:
Natural Surveillance: The placement of physical features, activities and people in a way that maximizes visibility. Can neighbours, an RCMP Constable or Peace Officer see your residence, outbuildings or an offender if they were driving by? Consider making your property more visible by opening sight lines and adding lights to your property.
Natural Access Control: This employs elements such as gates, doors, shrubs, and fences to deny admission to your property and create the perception of risk in trying to enter your property.
Territorial Reinforcement/Maintenance: This refers to the development of areas or places where users feel a strong sense of ownership. It helps make clear what your property is and makes it look maintained and lived in.
Athabasca County employs three full-time Community Peace Officers.
No. Athabasca County Peace Officers do not operate under a Stray Animals Act. For stray or other livestock-related concerns, contact a branding inspector. If it involves animal welfare, contact Alberta SPCA.
No. Athabasca County does not regulate cats nor does it have the facilities to handle stray cats.
Anonymous complaints cannot be actioned. Our Peace Officers require certain information before they can action a complaint. You can submit an complaint via this link or by calling the dispatch line 780-675-4022. Incomplete or inaccurate information may delay or prevent your complaint from being processed. All information is kept confidential.
Athabasca County Peace Officers respond to a wide range of complaints. They are tasked with investigating complaints relating to:
County Bylaws:
Provincial Acts:
Sec 115 (2)(t) of the Traffic Safety Act requires drivers to slow down to 60 km/h or posted limit if it is lower than 60 km/h and move over when lights are flashing. This applies to:
This law applies to the lane(s) immediately next to the stopped vehicle, with it’s flashing lights activated.
On September 1, 2023, on a single lane road, when you see emergency vehicles, tow trucks, roadside maintenance, utility and commercial/government vehicles stopped with their lights flashing, you must slow to 60 km/h (or less if the speed limit is lower) and move over.
On a road with 2 or more lanes, you must slow to 60 km/h (or less if the speed limit is lower) and move over to the adjacent lane.
Speed fines are doubled.
For general questions, inquiries or information about an ongoing file, you can contact our office Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 780-675-2273 or by email at protectiveservices@athabascacounty.com.
