Kamloops’ top cop hopes new council location report won’t delay building new RCMP headquarters

Plans for a new RCMP headquarters were first floated in 2023 and a funding request first came in January 2025. Those plans included the demolition of the current RCMP headquarters for a new building and parkade to facilitate an anticipated 30 years of growth for policing in Kamloops.

That project will involve a phased construction process over several years and Middleton told CFJC Today it would be “problematic” to have the RCMP work next to construction zone for several years.

“I think the community has spoken to us that that is not really a great option,” Middleton said. “Anytime when you’re looking for locations and opportunities, they can arise and disappear quickly, so I didn’t want to just leave it sitting.”

Pelley was asked about that reasoning and whether it would be an issue for the Kamloops RCMP, should the Battle Street site be chosen for the new detachment.

“There’s always the concern if you’re working your police operations completely adjacent to a construction site and we have to consider all those factors with regards to it while the building is occurring,” Pelley said.

“Those are factors that were considered in the onset with mitigation strategies, but we’re still making that assessment as we move forward with respect to other sites also being examined.”

The City of Kamloops is bound by its contract agreement with the RCMP to provide it with an adequate headquarters to replace the current Battle Street facility, which dates back to 1990 and is bursting at the seams.

The city has also already spent about $4.75 million on preliminary design work for the new RCMP building.

“We have specific criteria for what sites would be suitable and we’re going to continue to work with the municipality with respect to that and make sure we have the best site possible for our operations,” Pelley added.

Rendering of the proposed new RCMP Detachment in Kamloops. (Image Credit: City of Kamloops/File Photo)

In July, BC RCMP assistant commissioner John Brewer wrote to Kamloops city council to ask them to advance the project “without further delay.”

“In May of 2024, the city provided written confirmation of its intention to proceed with the construction and expansion development of a new RCMP detachment,” Brewer wrote. “Nearly two-and-a-half years have now elapsed since that commitment was made, and the RCMP has not received a formal update identifying the current status of the project, the city’s implementation plan or solidified timelines for advancing this critical infrastructure.”

Brewer added that the RCMP is “formally requesting” the city to advance the project without further delay, as the existing Battle Street facility “is no longer appropriate to support current operations and cannot reasonably accommodate future policing requirements and growth.”

“This matter has been under discussion for several years and was approved by council, however the absence of measurable progress since the city’s written commitment is concerning,” Brewer wrote.

“Should the city be unable to demonstrate meaningful progress toward fulfilling its obligations, the RCMP will consider exercising the authorities available under the Municipal Police Unit Agreement. This may include engaging Provincial Policing Services and Legal Services to pursue the appropriate contractual and legal remedies available to ensure the city meets its obligations to provide an adequate policing facility.”

Pelley told CFJC the city is responding to that letter, noting while the RCMP is working with the city, “we do need to move this project ahead.”

“Our focus remains on supporting a solution that provides a modern and effective policing facility for Kamloops residents and all our employees. This is much needed in this community and we are 26 years beyond the capacity of our current location.”

by Victor Kaisar

Kamloops’ top cop hopes new council location report won’t delay building new RCMP headquarters

Our Community