Province taking further steps towards full Saskatchewan Marshals Service

The Government of Saskatchewan is looking to take the next step toward a fully functioning provincial marshals service.

This week the government put out a request for proposals to find consulting services on its governance advisory council. The consultant would research and recommend a framework for the council.

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According to the request, the winner would create materials to guide the Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Tim McLeod and the council, and could be needed to provide support for up to six months.

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The province had previously said the council would have at least three people and provide “advice and guidance to the Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety on how to exercise their powers and duties related to the marshals service.”

Last week, government announced the first 10 members of the new service were sworn in and will undergo seven weeks of training. The operations are expected to start this summer — a full year before it was expected to start.

Messaging from the provincial government described the service as having authority throughout the province, and said it will support other police services where appropriate. The RCMP will continue to be the provincial police service of jurisdiction.

The officers will respond to high crime-rate areas, deal with gangs and illegal weapons, go after people with outstanding warrants and investigate farming-related offenses.

The Sask. NDP has criticized the service as wasteful, expensive and accused it of poaching experienced officers from other police services.

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• Lloydminster man faces 10 charges after drugs, weapons seized: RCMP
• Premier Scott Moe looking at getting strychnine back to combat gophers
• Consumer carbon tax will end on April 1 after order by Mark Carney