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Calgary community peace officers will temporarily fall under the command of the police service after a request from the provincial government to municipalities across Alberta in an effort to tackle the distribution of fentanyl<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n On Feb. 14, Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis sent a letter to cities, towns and police chiefs across the province, including Calgary and Edmonton, asking for deployment of community, bylaw and peace officers to be led by the police on a temporary basis.<\/p>\n In that confidential letter, obtained by Global News, Ellis said the effects of fentanyl and illicit drug use have given rise to \u201cserious health and wellness issues,\u201d and as minister, he is \u201cobligated to take steps to address these issues.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am formally requesting that you immediately begin working with the police leadership in your area to align or unify the operational command of your community peace officer program under the leadership of the police service of jurisdiction,\u201d Ellis\u2019s letter reads.<\/p>\n Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cThis will be for a temporary time period to ensure law enforcement efforts are coordinated to address fentanyl and social disorder most effectively.\u201d<\/p>\n A spokesperson for Ellis\u2019s office confirmed the letter was followed up by a meeting between the minister and municipalities last week.<\/p>\n \u201cThis meeting builds on the Alberta government\u2019s swift action on the fentanyl crisis to immediately get more boots on the ground to fight the illicit drug trade,\u201d Ellis\u2019s office said in a statement. \u201cWe will have more to say on this in the coming days.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t