By Ryan Pilon

More police officers in the province

Mar 24, 2011 | 4:48 PM

The Saskatchewan government announced on Wednesday another 30 positions for police officers throughout the province.

The government had originally promised they would add 120 new police officers in the province during their four-year term. They had already completed adding 90 positions before Wednesday’s announcement – this will complete their goal.

Minister of Corrections, Public Safety, and Policing, Yogi Huyghebaert, said by adding more police officers, they are striving to keep the streets safer.

“The crime severity rate in this province is very, very high. In order to reduce crime, one of the ways of reducing crime is by having more officers on the streets,” said Huyghebaert. “I think the more police officers you have, is actually going to be front and center on reducing crime.”

Huyghebaert doesn’t know yet where these 30 positions will be allocated.

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About four weeks ago, the Prince Albert Police Service received three new positions.

New positions have been distributed to both municipal police services and the RCMP.
In total, the estimated money going towards policing services for the 2011-12 year will be $167,482,000, up by 8.5 per cent from last year’s $154,315,000.

Huyghebaert said the rise in costs not only covers the additional positions, but also the rise in salaries.

rpilon@panow.com