Police Chief Said He Does Not Support New Provincial Police Force - Preferring A Different Route
I HAVE PROVIDED MY INPUT QUIETLY TO THE MINISTRY FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND MY INPUT HAS BEEN IT’S NOT THE CORRECT WAY TO GO,” CHIEF RICK BOURASSA
Those are the words of Moose Jaw’s Chief of Police when asked his thoughts on the Province’s spending $20 million on a provincial Sheriff’s law enforcement unit.
The comments were made at Wednesday morning’s monthly meeting of the Moose Jaw Board of Police Commissioners in response to a question by Commissioner Doug Blanc about the unit and potential financial impact on the Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS).
Commissioner Blanc was worried about the financial impact on the MJPS as provincial funding might be withdrawn - presently the provincial government funds six officers.
The Commissioner was also worried about the impact of the new Sheriffs policing service on the MJPS because the $20 million only covered hiring officers and no capital funding.
Chief Bourassa said the issue was sprung on provincial chiefs of police with no consultation or feedback.
“There was no consultation on it. We were called to the Throne Speech two years ago and then were briefed…shortly before the speech about this new police service,” he said.
CHIEF RICK BOURASSA ADDRESSES MEMBERS OF THE MOOSE JAW BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS ON WEDNESDAY MORNING
The mandate for the new service was initially to be an equipped tactical unit.
“The questions we had were to do what and why? And the initial thing we had we were told it’s a concept…we were told it was going to be highly trained in an equipped tactical unit so the Province could do things.”
The proposed $20 million Sheriff’s service mandate has changed over time.
“That explanation has changed over time with the most recent one. I see now they are to engage in complex investigations,” the Chief said.
Chief Bourassa said he could not make his comments publicly as they could be seen as influencing how the law is drafted. Now that the law has been enacted he is free to speak.
“My comments now can’t be seen anyway and how that law goes. I made those comments quietly behind the scenes when we’re consulted,” he said.
He felt it was better to use well-established municipal police forces to tackle the issues.
“What are the issues and if you come to the police services that are already in this, that are well-established and infrastructure’s built who have the resources and provide us with the resources we will come up with plans to get at those issues,” Chief Bourassa said.
Chief Bourassa said he was finally making his concerns and comments public.
“I don’t think from my perspective…I do not think it is the correct way to proceed. However it is going to proceed and that’s quite clear.”
If requested to be part of it or help Bourassa said the MJPS would help, but he would continue to express his opinion that it is not the way to go.
“The better way is to use the existing police services in the province…when I travel we are the envy of every other province and how we work together.”
“Adding an additional police service into that with a completely different governance structure, completely different mandate from the rest of us will not be useful,” Chief Bourassa said.
He pointed to other jurisdictions where there are problems with communications, deciding jurisdictions, lack of information, sharing and other problems by adding an additional police service.
“I think there is a better way to do it,” he said, adding he would be happy to engage the Province on it.
He said while the issue was being debated his views aligned with other police chiefs in the province that there might be a better way to do it.
The Saskatchewan Marshals Service (SMS) will have 70 officers and before the operational by 2026, according to a release.
The service will not take over the duties of the RCMP or municipal forces. It has a mandate to support them while also conducting their own investigations