Saskatoon Police Service celebrates 120 years

A couple hundred people lined Ontario Avenue on Wednesday as the Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) held its annual barbecue.

This year’s barbecue marks 120 years of service for the SPS.

Police Chief Troy Cooper said the event is a great time for the public to communicate with the police and build more trust between the two sides.

(Will Mandzuk/650 CKOM)

“I think if people feel that they can speak to police officers and don’t feel that we’re not approachable, I think they will build more trust,” said Cooper.

“Just knowing that they can come down to the office, they can look around, they can talk to staff, they can ask questions about a career, that will build an understanding that we’re not an external component of the community, we’re part of that community.”

The barbecue also allows the police service to hold demonstrations so the public can see what officers do.

“People can come and learn a little bit more about policing, they can see some of the programs we have (and) some of the equipment, meet police officers and interact in a positive way,” said Cooper.

Cooper noted the event can also shed a light on the positives of being a police officer.

“When people look at the police service on the news, often they see us involved in cases where there’s tragedy (or) in cases that are stressful, but there’s more to policing than that,” Cooper said. “We’re part of the community. We have this incredible job that we do where we can influence people’s safety (and) we can make a difference.

“For young folks who are considering a career in policing, to be able to sit in that environment and talk to somebody about what it really means is helpful.”