Province Commits Funds For Northern Drug Squad

Province Commits Funds For Northern Drug Squad

Wednesday, April 08, 2009 at 15:22

 

 

The province’s Minister of Corrections, Public Safety and Policing says a proposed drug squad for northern Saskatchewan is a go.

 

Darryl Hickie says the move is made possible through the province’s decision to hire 30 new police officers throughout the province.

 

Sixteen of those positions have been set aside for RCMP officers.

 

Hickie says Prince Albert Police Chief Dale McFee and RCMP assistant commissioner Dale McGowan will help oversee creation of the new drug unit over the next year.

 

He adds five new positions have also been set aside for the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods program.

 

Under the terms of that initiative, investigators check out homes that are suspected of being dens of criminal activity.

 

Hickie believes the extra officers will help in a number of different ways.

 

However, he notes it’s impossible to say whether it will reduce the number of times officers draw their guns.

 

Hickie adds the government has also set aside $3.8 million to back up RCMP officers in remote locations, which is part of the Mounties’ new national policy.