The location of the 30 new police positions receiving funding from the provincial government in the 2011-12 budget have been determined.
All of the 30 positions will be allocated to the RCMP, with three to North Battleford, two to Meadow Lake, two to Estevan and the remaining 23 to support the province's policing agreement with the federal government.
"In choosing the communities where new police positions would be located, we looked at historical crime rates as well as initiatives in place to help combat criminal activity," Corrections, Public Safety and Policing Minister D.F. (Yogi) Huyghebaert said. "With funding now in place for these final 30 officer positions, this government has delivered on its promise of safer communities by putting 120 more police officers on our streets within four years."
The total investment in the 120 police officers is $14.3 million, with 76 RCMP positions and 44 municipal police positions allocated as follows:
Regina 10
Saskatoon 12
Prince Albert 11
North Battleford -three
Yorkton - two
Estevan - two
Weyburn - one
Meadow Lake - two
Moose Jaw - one
Along with adding to policing services in rural and urban areas, positions also support specialized crime-fighting activities such as the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU), the Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit and the Northern Drug Strategy. All of these units are comprised of both municipal police and RCMP positions.
"This government is dedicated to the peace of mind that safe, secure communities bring, so that everyone can enjoy the many advantages of living in Saskatchewan today," Huyghebaert said.
