More Aboriginal Police Officers On The Way

More Aboriginal Police Officers On The Way

Monday, April 10, 2006 at 13:12

A portion of last week’s provincial budget announcement was allocated to create openings for 29 new police officers in the province — 27 of which will go to officers of Aboriginal ancestry.

Justice Minister Frank Quennell says the majority of those officers will be sent to communities in the North.

Quennell says the province is making this move in direct response to a recommendation made by the Commission on First Nations and Metis People and Justice Reform.

He notes the Aboriginal officers will be stationed at several reserve detachments, including Onion Lake, Pelican Narrows, Makwa Sahgaiehcan, Standing Buffalo, Pasqua, Mistawasis, Ahtahkakoop and Fond du Lac.

The new officers are expected to begin work by October.

As well, a new RCMP Aboriginal recruitment officer will be hired.

And, as part of the Safer Communities initiative, two Aboriginal intergrated crime reduction strategy officers will be hired and stationed in Meadow Lake and La Ronge.