New faces join PA police

Cooper remembers meeting her more than 30 years ago when he took a conversational Cree class at SIAST and calls her a friend.

“She’s my friend of course, but she plays another vital role for our police service acting as an Elder when called upon to provide advice or to help us through some culturally sensitive cases,” Cooper said.

At the announcement Cooper said Pitzel allowed the police to formalize the relationship to let the community know she is now their designated Elder.

“She’ll be our first contact when Elder services are required and she’ll help us find appropriate cultural resources. She’ll also be present among our staff to offer advice and to assist our aboriginal resource officer in providing ongoing cultural training,” Cooper explained.

This voluntary position is aligned with the police service’s commitment to cultural sensitivity and will improve the police’s response to major crimes or community safety issues that require a cultural perspective.

Pitzel has a long list of accolades, for 11 years she has worked as the aboriginal resource officer for the police in a victim services capacity and as a result she’s become very familiar with the court system, police system and the officers at the station.

She is currently an Elder for the Prince Albert Regional Officer for Social Services.

“Her commitment to that organization supports our priorities of integrated service delivery and our effects to provide a community response to complex issues rather than an organizational response.”

Pitzel was also a recipient of the Queen Diamond Jubilee Medal for her community work, she has also been an advisor for both local and provincial governments and she has served as a senator for the University of Saskatchewan and served on the Federal Human Rights Commission.

She has participated as a board member and volunteer for the Indian and Metis Friendship Centre, Interval House Women’s Shelter in Saskatoon, the Ranch Ehrlo Society, the John M. Cuelenaere Public Library, the youth activity centre, the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan, the Native Co-ordinating Center, Community against Family Violence, and the list goes on.

“She’s volunteered in many, many other ways as an educator and lobbyist for the aboriginal community. She provides me with personal advice and support and I’m extremely grateful to have such a valuable resource available to all of the women and men of our service,” Cooper said.

Pitzel thanks all the people and teachers in her life that have gone to the spirit world for all the things they taught her.

“I’m really honoured to come back and work within the [police] service because my work is very important to me through the years I have been here,” she said.

“The part that I like the best about the services is that they are working in a different way, they are very proactive in doing prevention as well as having to deal with the issues that come about in our city.”

She said being a part of the solution is very important in the work they do in the community.

Pitzel is retired, so the police will contact her when they need advice, but she does come and work within the station and stops in frequently.

Cooper said, “She also is available on case-by-case basis, so if we had a serious or significant case that was culturally sensitive we’ve contacted her in the past and will continue to contact her. She’s helped us bridge that cultural gap.”

“The whole court and public safety system is complicated and for people that are not used to dealing with it it’s comfortable to have somebody either speaking in their own language or speaking from the perspective of a respected Elder,” he said.

Cooper said what the police wanted was someone personal, so they could tell members this is someone they could go to.

“For us because of where we are … particularly in a province so culturally rich, it was important for us to do this.”

More additions for the Prince Albert Police Service

The Prince Albert police welcomed three new members to the service.

The three young men just finished a grueling 20-week program at the Saskatchewan Police College at the University of Regina.

As of this week they will go through one week of in-house training and then will be deployed to their respective platoons to begin their careers.

The police welcomed 23-year-old Const. Luke Torgunrud who was employed as a Bylaw officer prior to coming to Prince Albert.

Const. Braden Blais, 25, is originally from the city and had been working in Saskatoon as a protective services special constable for the University of Saskatchewan.

Blais has a diploma in Criminal Justice.

And finally the service welcomes Const. Jonathon Wilde, who also has a diploma in Criminal Justice.

Wilde, 25, is originally from Saskatoon and prior to coming to Prince Albert he was employed as a court security guard for the provincial government.

Police conference items of interest

At the police conference on Monday. Sgt. Brandon Mudry said the driver of a van that struck a parked bus on May 30 is a 16-year-old boy.

Police are still investigating and several charges are pending.

On May 31 police responded to the 1300-block of 17th Street West. There they located a 39-year-old man who was stabbed.

The man was taken to hospital where he is in stable condition.

The victim said he was leaving a house party when he was approached by assailants from the house.

Police said the victim couldn't provide a description, but believe the attack was not random.

The matter is still under investigation.

Another assault occurred on May 31 around 8:20 a.m. Police said they responded to the 1900-block of 14th Street West.

On arrival they found a victim, 22, who had been hit by a two-by-four when he couldn't provide the two assailants with a cigarette.

The victim was taken to hospital with minor injuries and the matter is still under investigation.

There was also a series of break-and-enters over the weekend that are still under investigation.

swallace@panow.com

On Twitter: @sarahthesquid

by Sarah Wallace

New faces join PA police

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