The provincial Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety, Paul Merriman, was in Weyburn this morning to announce $238,000 in funding for two new police officers for the Weyburn Police Service. It is part of $17.1 million in new funding announced last week for a multi-ministry initiative to help create safer neighbourhoods across the province.
“This funding is in addition to our budget that came out earlier this year,” Merriman said about the funding announcement. “We sat down as a cabinet and as a caucus. We’ve heard from communities that there is a lot of social disorder, unfortunately, and our response to that is not just policing – I want to make that clear – but the policing is the first contact that is going to happen with an individual that’s having some challenging times.”
The $17.1 million includes $11.9 million for roughly 100 new municipal police officers - $238,000 of that allocated for Weyburn – along with $2.7 million to double the number of Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods officers from 14 to 28, and $2.5 million for the Saskatchewan Police College.
“This is going to be a decision that we'll have to sit down and discuss as a service, with my senior leaders and with the police commission, as to what way it’s best utilized,” Weyburn Police Chief Brent VanDeSype said of the funding. “We certainly feel that it’s an opportunity to add two members, but how they’re going to be utilized in further details, that’s something we need to sit down and discuss with the board.”
The Weyburn Police Service currently has 21 sworn members, with one current vacancy. The new two positions would bring the complement of the service to 24.
Merriman also stressed the ability for the SCAN program and the complex needs shelters established in Saskatoon and Regina to benefit other communities. Currently, SCAN has officers who assist in situations in other municipalities. The complex needs shelters in the two largest cities in the province have been hailed as a success, with Regina reporting of the 108 people who have utilized it, only seven were arrested – on outstanding warrants. The others were connected with appropriate services. The plan is to expand the program to other communities on a needs-based approach.
“If other communities want to approach the government, that would be up to them to sit down and have that discussion with social services, health, and corrections and policing,” Merriman, who is also the Chair of Human Services with the provincial government, added.
As for the two new police officers in Weyburn, along with the existing vacancy, the recruitment process will need to get underway. VanDeSype said he is hopeful the city will see the new officers in the community by the middle of next year.