City lobbying province for more police officers

A formal report is now being drafted, making the case why Prince Albert needs four additional police officers. 

A resolution was passed during this week’s Board of Police Commissioner’s meeting.

Board member Mayor Greg Dionne, plans on inviting the Minister for Corrections and Policing to Prince Albert once the report is formally prepared to discuss the policing needs of the city.

“We are doing it not only for the safety of our residents, but for the safety of the men and women who work in our police force,” Dionne said. 

The statistics gathered by the Prince Albert Police Service have shown that 30 per cent of all arrests made are non-residents. A recent report by the University of Saskatchewan said P.A.’s trade area – the amount of people who use city services, like the hospital – is up to 195,000 people.

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Dionne said these statistics support the idea the city ultimately provides a regional police force.

The Prince Albert Police Service currently employs 92 Officers with an additional seven Bylaw-Community Safety Officers. Nineteen of these positions are funded currently by the province.

“Four would add one more member to every platoon. Every shift would have another man,” he said. Of course people are going to say ‘its election time,’ but…we as a police commission, are working on the 2017 budget.”

Dionne said he has also contacted both local MLAs Joe Hargrave and Nicole Rancourt to seek support. Hargrave served on the board of police commission for three years.

nmaxwell@panow.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell