OLDS — The Town of Olds has a new senior peace officer, after going a few months without one.
Community peace officers perform a variety of duties, from enforcing various laws – including bylaws -- to providing security in public facilities.
Paul Wright appeared before town council during its July 11 meeting, which was also his first official day on the job.
Chief administrative officer Brent Williams admitted he hadn’t even had a chance to meet Wright before the meeting.
“But no time like the present,” he said, noting Wright at that point was four hours into his new job.
Olds’ former senior peace officer, Sgt. Eric Christensen, left the community to become supervisor of municipal enforcement for the City of Beaumont as of February.
He had served as Olds’ senior peace officer for just under two-and-a-half years.
In an email to the Albertan, Williams said with the arrival of Wright, the Town of Olds' community peace officer department is now fully staffed.
He said before Wright arrived, the municipality had a junior peace officer who was supervised by protective services director Justin Andrew.
“Having two full-time positions allows us to provide some services outside of regular business hours and also support other functions and projects within protective services," Williams wrote.
Before coming to Olds, Wright was a police officer in Calgary for 15 years and a police officer in the United Kingdom for about 12 years before that.
“I’m happy to be here,” he said.
Mayor Judy Dahl welcomed Wright, saying she felt it was important he was introduced to all the council members “in case we run into you in town.”
Coun. Heather Ryan asked Wright why he decided to become a peace officer after all those years as a police officer.
Wright said for one thing, he felt he had done all he wanted to do in his policing career.
Also, he and his family enjoy the community.
