Deputy Chief Prince was presented with a Starblanket by Police Board Chair Kimbley and Elder Ermine during her swearing in ceremony Friday. (Submitted photo/Prince Albert Police Service)

By Nigel Maxwell

Law enforcement

Emotional welcome for Prince Albert’s new deputy chief of police

Oct 2, 2021 | 8:00 AM

Prince Albert’s newest deputy chief of police has officially been sworn in.

Farica Prince was draped with a Starblanket during the event that was held Friday morning at the E.A. Rawlinson Centre for the Arts, and streamed online to the community via the Prince Albert Police Service YouTube channel.

During her address, Prince said while she has only been in the city a short time, she can already see the commitment from the community in supporting reconciliation.

“I am invigorated and encouraged by the community’s clear commitment to true truth and reconciliation,” she said. “It’s been very apparent that different people in the community are committed to raising awareness and acknowledging the issues that Indigenous people and communities face … Bringing awareness to the issues that marginalized people face, along with addressing the barriers that impact us is important work for me, and this is one of the reasons I was able to envision myself here in P.A. and here with Prince Albert Police Service, because it’s clear that the community and the organization also sees this as important work.”

Provincial Court Judge, the Honourable Earl Kalenith, presided over the swearing in ceremony. (Submitted photo/ Prince Albert Police Service)

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Due to COVID-19, only a very small number of guests were in attendance at the ceremony, including Sheryl Kimbley, Chair of the Prince Albert Board of Police Commissioners; Prince Albert Mayor Greg Dionne; PAPS Elder Leonard ‘Bunny’ Ermine, Prince Albert Police Inspectors Brent McDonald, Tadd Kellett and Craig Mushka; and dignitaries from the Prince Albert Grand Council and Métis Nation – Saskatchewan.

Kimbley offered a welcome message to Deputy Chief Prince and said she will be well supported by the police organization and the community in her new role. Kimbley also encouraged the community to continue working together on issues affecting crime and support the police in finding solutions to crime trends.

“It’s my constant message to the city of Prince Albert that we have to work together as a city,” she said. “We can’t expect to look at the police and say ‘fix all our problems,’ we have to work together to support these people that have taken on the role.”

The new deputy chief (middle) is joined onstage by her colleagues. (Prince Albert Police Service).

Police Chief Jonathan Bergen welcomed Prince to the organization and thanked members of his administration team – Inspector Brent McDonald, Inspector Tadd Kellett, and Inspector Craig Mushka – for their significant work and continued leadership in supporting the organization throughout the search for a new deputy chief.

“You are joining a progressive police service that has been built on the hard work and dedication of over 100 sworn police officers who all serve with great pride, with great commitment to their work, and extremely hard-working civilian staff and a real team of true professionals,” Chief Bergen said. “I know you’re going to bring a different and new perspective and from your other experiences, this will bring other insights to our team, and I look forward to working with you.”

Current Saskatchewan Public Health Order regulations were strictly followed during the ceremony, including proof of vaccination requirements and masking. The live video of Friday’s swearing in ceremony can be found online at this link.

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On Twitter: @princealbertnow