Chief of Police
On August 28, 2023, Dwayne Lakusta became the first Chief of Police for the Grande Prairie Police Service. Chief Lakusta came to the Grande Prairie Police Service as an accomplished and influential leader in the field of public safety with close to 30 years of progressive law enforcement experience.
Mr. Lakusta began his policing career in 1995 as a patrol constable for the Edmonton Police Service. Over the course of his 26 years with the Edmonton Police Service, he held various positions, including working in the Drug Undercover Street Team, Project KARE, Organized Crime Branch, Homicide Section, Professional Standards and Targeted Offender Section. He also served as the Inspector of West Division Patrol and was seconded to ALERT as their Superintendent-Chief Executive Officer.
Prior to his appointment as Police Chief, Mr. Lakusta was serving as the Executive Director of Law Enforcement and Police Oversight for the Government of Alberta's Public Safety and Emergency Services Ministry. In this role, he focused on ensuring adequate and effective levels of policing across the province by managing the RCMP Provincial Police Service Agreement and the RCMP Municipal Policing Service Agreement. Mr. Lakusta also played a crucial role in police oversight and setting policing standards for all law enforcement agencies in the province.
As the inaugural Chief of Police for the new Grande Prairie Police Service, Dwayne Lakusta brings with him a motivation to affect change for the unique needs of the community. His vision is to collaborate with stakeholders to build an innovative and community-focused police service that engages with the public, establishing an exceptional public safety organization for the residents of Grande Prairie.
Chief Lakusta is married and spends much of his free time coaching his daughter’s local sports teams. His family supports his dedication to building the Grande Prairie Police Service, and will be calling the City their home very soon.