The targeted policing initiatives in the province are working, and Yorkton is receiving $330,000 to continue funding the three community police officers in the city, through the Government of Saskatchewan's Ministry of Justice.
The initial grant in the city was $90,000 for one officer, Yorkton MLA Greg Ottenbreit explains, and it has expanded to three after the success of the program. He says that getting officers in the schools and the community is something that works and he is glad to support.
"I personally feel it's a really great initiative, having those community police officers engaged and in schools, developing those relationships with young kids and those proactive relationships that will maybe alleviate problems those youth will experience in coming years," Ottenbreit says.
Staff Sergeant Joe Milburn says that the program allows the police to do extra activities and get involved in the community, especially in the local schools. He points to recent events like the Bike Rodeo, which promoted bike safety to over 300 Yorkton and area students, as an event that shows the value of community police officers, because it would be difficult to accomplish otherwise.
"It really allows us to not only do our daily activities that are expected of us, but it allows us to do a lot more in the community and be involved in the schools and that kind of thing."
Milburn says that with the funding it allows the police force to be more effective overall as well, and he believes the community engagement is important for crime prevention and also dealing with drug problems within the city.
