Yesterday, the SMS shared this photo of Mayor Mike Natomagan of Pinehouse visit ED-Civilian Deputy Chief Sierzycki at the SMS HQ. The Marshals say creation of the new police force is going well and they now plan to be operational by mid-2025. 

By Susan McNeil

Target moved forward

Marshals Service moves up operational timeline to coming summer

Dec 12, 2024 | 3:04 PM

Following what it says is significant progress, the Saskatchewan Marshals Service is planning to be operational this summer, about one year sooner than they previously expected.

SMS Chief Marshal Rob Cameron said that working with existing police services is a priority for the new police service whose headquarters will be based in Prince Albert.

“As we continue to approach our eventual deployment in Saskatchewan, it’s important to our service that we maintain these positive relationships with other enforcement agencies,” said Chief Marshal Rob Cameron in a news release on December 12.

“We will continue to engage with municipal and First Nations communities and other partners so we can best serve the province.”

The creation of the Marshals Service was announced by the government of Saskatchewan in 2022 for several purposes.

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One is to address complex crimes and “detect, disrupt and deter criminal activity across Sask, focusing on higher crime locations”. One tactic they plan to use to accomplish that goal is being highly visible and using intelligence-led policing.

They also will have the task of finding high-risk/prolific offenders, a job description shared with the RCMP’s Warrant and Enforcement Suppression Team (WEST).

In 2022, there were two WEST teams, one in Saskatoon and one in Meadow Lake with a third being planned for Prince Albert that would have eight officers. They are paid for by the province.

While RCMP have officially said they would work with the new services, the RCMP officer union, The National Police Federation, said several months ago that its members do not see the need for creation of a new service.

PA Police Chief Patrick Nogier said that they see the new timeline as significant in enhancing law enforcement capabilities across the province.

Leadership between the two services had met several times.

“We acknowledge that it will take time for any new organization to establish its operational footing and fully realize its mandate” said Nogier.

“I am committed to maintaining open communication with the leadership of the SMS. Early discussions have been constructive, highlighting opportunities for collaboration and shared objectives, particularly in areas such as intelligence-led policing, high-risk offender apprehension, and specialized support services.”

It became an election issue in October when provincial NDP leader Carla Beck said she would scrap it if elected.

According to the Marshals, one of their roles will be as support for other agencies, including the RCMP, First Nations and municipal services.

Discussion about how policing should look – and who should deliver it – on reserves is an ongoing thing. The Prince Albert Grand Council met with all of its member communities this summer to discuss that very idea.

PAGC said that it will take two years for a feasibility study to be complete. Indigenous-led policing became a bigger priority following the mass stabbing in James Smith Cree Nation near Melfort on September 4, 2022.

So far, Prince Albert police have lost two officers to the new service and, along with the election announcement of 17 additional officers to be paid for by the province, are recruiting.

Myles Sanderson, the man who killed 11 people in injured 17 others, had outstanding warrants but was moving about openly in James Smith, Melfort and Saskatoon selling cocaine before hand and had been released from prison just months before.

READ MORE: James Smith looking for justice system changes following second stabbing inquest

The final mandate of the SMS is to investigate offences connected to agriculture such as theft of cattle, crops, metals and farm chemicals and trespassing.

While the Marshals will be headquartered in Prince Albert, the plan is to have regional outposts in select locations.

Those locations have not been finalized yet but it is a priority in order to make sure they are staffed, according to the news release. They do expect to announce locations in the first three months of 2025.

Cameron was the first person hired by the SMS and since then Deputy Chief Marshal, Rich Lowan and Civilian Deputy Chief, Thomas Sierzycki were hired.

Two Superintendents and three inspectors have also been hired. Several important civilian operational support positions have also been filled.

Cameron told paNOW earlier this year that they plan to hire experienced officers first and he anticipated interest because of the type of investigations they will be doing.

New hires will complete extra training in the new year and positions for new recruits will be advertised early next year as well.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

On BlueSky: @susanmcneil.bsky.social