By Taylor MacPherson

P.A. police receive $2 million for special initiatives

Nov 4, 2016 | 5:00 PM

The Government of Saskatchewan announced today, Nov. 4 that Prince Albert Police Service was awarded $2 million for targeted policing initiatives under the Municipal Police Grants program.

Municipal Police Grant funding is given to support special policing initiatives across the province. Programs funded by the grants include the Internet Child Exploitation unit, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit who combat organized crime, and Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan.

Police Chief Troy Cooper said the annual funding supports 19 targeted positions which allow P.A. officers to tackle specific issues directly.

“Sometimes the targeted enforcement is required because it’s a specialized investigation,” Cooper said. “For example Internet child exploitation. The training that’s required, the specialization required, the complexity of investigations requires dedicated staff.”

“We can’t always support dedicated staff for this sort of thing as a standalone police agency,” Cooper said. “It’s nice to have funding available to help us do that.”

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Cooper said the targeted initiatives have been successful in P.A., and have allowed police to participate in provincial and national strategies on issues such as organized crime.

“We’re very fortunate to have this kind of funding in our area,” Cooper said.

Joe Hargrave, MLA for Prince Albert Carlton, said the Government of Saskatchewan is committed to community safety, both in P.A. and across the province.

“Through the Municipal Police Grants the province is able to help ensure families and neighbourhoods in Prince Albert are safe by providing additional resources to the Prince Albert Police Service,” Hargrave said in a media release.

The new funding comes as part of a $14.2 million campaign to support 125 targeted police positions across Saskatchewan. Since 2008, P.A. has received more than $15 million in municipal police grants.

Also announced today was $330,000 in funding to support three targeted RCMP positions in Yorkton and $770,000 to fund seven RCMP officers addressing targeted initiatives in Meadow Lake.

Taylor.macpherson@jpbg.ca

@TMacPhersonNews