Without any fanfare, Lac La Biche county officials have suspended the peace officer program.
The Lac La Biche POST learned late this afternoon that Lac La Biche County currently has no municipal police force.
County officials are saying the program is "temporarily out of service" due to staffing shortages.
The program, which has included up to six peace officers, security staff and school liaison officers, has been running for the last half a dozen years.
The department has a large inventory of vehicles and equipment that will remain untouched until county officials determine their next step.
"Earlier this week two officers left the organization, and two others are on a short-term leave," said interim county CAO Shadia Amblie, herself occupying a position still waiting a full-time replacement after the former CAO was fired without cause in February.
The POST has learned that one of the peace officers - one with training to conduct traffic patrols and assist with provincial matters - has accepted a position with a protective services department in a municipality in south-central Alberta.
Amblie says public safety and security during this time of transition will continue to be in the very capable hands of trained RCMP officers who continue to service the community.
"We are confident that local RCMP officers will continue to serve the community in their usual capacity during this interim period," she said.
The contingent of security staff hired and trained to work at the Bold Center have not been affected by the recent staff changes, said Amblie.
"Security services at the Bold Center are unaffected by this temporary situation," she said.
Another member of the Protective Services department is facing staffing strains this week as well.
Amblie says firefighters from neighbouring fire halls will be pitching in to help with any calls to the Lac La Biche Fire Department this week as several local firefighters are away.
"The Plamondon and Hylo fire halls are pitching in for the time being," she said.
