Marshal service will focus on complex investigations, help municipal police

The Saskatchewan Marshals Service – expected to be operational in 2026 – will be a full police force, but is being created to assist municipal police with difficult, time-consuming investigations.

Rob Cameron, a 31-year veteran of the RCMP, has been given the job of chief marshal and creating the new service from scratch.

“What the Saskatchewan Marshals Service is really looking to do is enhance the policing presence in the province here,” he said. “We also have a mandate with regards to prolific and violent offenders and, as well, people that are wanted for various offences and that would be on a warrant, for example.”

While he is the only one of the 70 officers that will make up the sworn members of the force, Cameron said he takes calls daily from experienced officers who are interested in the new service because of the type of investigating it will be doing. The service will also employ about 30 support staff.

“What we offer is a very unique style of policing,” Cameron said.

“A lot of police officers as they progress through their career aspire to get into the kind of work that the marshals would be doing, and it is a specialized area, right? And you could consider the marshal service specialized police service, and so I think a lot of folks are interested in that.”

He said he is confident that the style of policing will allow the marshals to overcome an issue the RCMP and the Canadian military are having significant issues with – recruitment.

In addition to more challenging investigations, marshals will also be tasked with investigating cattle theft and metal thefts, issues more common in rural areas.

When the service starts recruiting officers this fall, Cameron said it will only be taking experienced officers to start.

As far as staffing goes, right now Cameron is focused on building an executive team and hiring a few support staff members, but he isn’t too worried because of the inquiries he is getting from experienced officers.

As officers progress in their careers, they look for more challenging investigations, which is what he said they will get.

In addition to the RCMP, Saskatchewan has municipal police forces based in Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, Estevan and Weyburn, and one Indigenous service at File Hills.

The first physical location to open will be Prince Albert, which is coming together quickly, according to Cameron, but field offices will be opened in different areas of the province.

Where will depend on several factors, not the least of which are crime trends.

Another task will be to build relationships with existing services, but Cameron said the new service is being designed to be collaborative and to work with partner agencies.

He said he has already had several discussions with Prince Albert Police Chief Patrick Nogier to see how they can combine efforts.

That won’t be limited to police services either. Cameron said marshals will work with conservation officers and highway patrol officers as well.

Some criticism has been levied against the decision by the province to create a new police service rather than just increase funding to existing services. The Saskatchewan NDP has questioned whether the service will be independent and accountable to a police board.

Cameron said yes, it will be, and pointed to the legislation that created the marshals service. He said it’s unique and only comparable to what is seen with the Ontario Provincial Police.

“The independence of the chief marshal to run operations and the service is actually laid out in the legislation, which is quite unique,” he said.

The act compartmentalizes the power and authority of the service, and includes the strategic direction and priorities created by the province and a board.

“I will report to a board and the marshals service itself will be subject to the same oversight that all police services in the province are subject to – for example, the Public Complaints Commission,” he said.

The service will have the ability to investigate independently.