Police officers from across the province gathered in the Energy City on May 18 and 19 for the Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers’ spring meeting.
The Estevan Police Association hosted the convention, and the EPA’s president, Sgt. Evan Handley, said they had city police officers from Prince Albert, Weyburn, Saskatoon and Regina in attendance, along with the senior officers associations from Saskatoon and Regina.
Police from Moose Jaw could not attend due to a prior commitment.
During the convention’s first day, there was a presentation from Weyburn police Chief Marlo Pritchard with the Saskatchewan Association of the Chiefs of Police. Pritchard provided an update on the current happenings with the police chiefs.
Other speakers were Brent Cotter and John Clarke from the Saskatchewan Public Complaints Commission, and Dale Larsen from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice’s Policing and Community Safety Services.
“We had some good chats with them, talked about community safety officers, the public complaints commission and their processes and where they’re at, at this time,” said Handley. “We have a very good ongoing relationship with them through the Sask. Fed (of Police Officers).” The second day featured local committee reports and other reports, with recaps of what they’re encountering and challenges they are facing.
“When … there is a situation going on that, maybe, as a president or an association, we haven’t dealt with before, or if we’re not sure which direction we should go in, we always lean heavily on all the other associations,” said Handley.
“If it’s happening here, there’s a good chance it happened somewhere else, or it will happen somewhere else.”
Policing is always changing, he said, thanks to new technology and situations that are occurring.
The members of the Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers are closely tied together, and Handley said that whenever they go to a national convention, they receive praise for the strength of their ties.
