Province provides $7.61 million to Saskatoon police, funding 54 positions

This year’s contributions from the provincial government to the Saskatoon Police Service add up to $7.61 million.

According to the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety, police in the Bridge City will receive $6.71 million in funding through municipal police grants, which will be used to support 49 existing jobs on the police force.

SGI is also chipping in $900,000 to fund five positions as part of the Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan initiative, bringing the total provincial funding up to $7.61 million for 54 positions.

Grant announcements for the police forces in Regina, Estevan, Moose Jaw and Weyburn were rolled out earlier this week.

The funding will help support targeted initiatives including Saskatoon’s Police and Crisis Team, which partners officers with mental health professionals to provide a co-ordinated response to those in crisis.

A new position on the team will also be funded by the provincial government this year, with a $114,400 investment.

The grant funding will also help support the Internet Child Exploitation program, the ministry added, which investigates online child exploitation including child pornography.

Charlie Clark, Saskatoon’s mayor, said neighbourhoods across the city are seeing “an increasing challenge” due to mental health issues and addictions.

“It is imperative at this time for all levels of government to work together and to provide the necessary resources to support those who are struggling,” Clark said in a statement.

“The funding provided from the provincial government will be key to building coordinated approaches that address the root causes affecting community safety and wellbeing. This will help to ensure all neighbourhoods in Saskatoon are safe and livable.”

Troy Cooper, the city’s outgoing police chief, said the police service appreciates the support from the province.

“Funding from the Province of Saskatchewan is a critical component to community safety when it comes to gang activity, exploitation and increasing calls relating to mental health,” Cooper said in a statement.

The police grants program, which has been running since 1998, currently supports 143 municipal police positions around the province, the ministry noted.