Released on November 15, 2019
Government is providing more than $680,000 for new policing tools and programming to police operations, community-based organizations and the Victims’ Fund through the Civil Forfeiture Program.
Approximately $340,000 of this will be provided to Saskatchewan police forces and community-based organizations. In accordance with legislation, a matching amount will be deposited from the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund into the Victims’ Fund.
“Police services and community-based organizations across Saskatchewan are taking action to make our province a safer place for everyone,” Corrections and Policing Minister Christine Tell said. “We are proud to support their efforts by funding new tools and programs that support safe and healthy communities.”
The police and community program funding will be used to provide for the following technology and programming:
- A research program studying Occupational Stress Injury (OSI) or PTSD (Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police (SACP).
- Digital Vehicular Repeater Systems (Regina Police Service).
- Mobile Breath Testing Van (Saskatoon Police).
- Planning Together Project PRIDE Partnership (Moose Jaw Police Service).
- A domestic/family abuse program (Parkland Victims Services Inc.).
- Sexual Assault Review Committee (Sexual Assault Services of Saskatchewan).
- Other tools and programs further described in the backgrounder.
“These tools and programs will contribute to the well-being and safety of all Saskatchewan people, making our province a better place for us all to live and work,” SACP President and Saskatchewan RCMP Commanding Officer A/Commr. Mark Fisher said. “The SACP is pleased to receive the funds for research about Occupational Stress Injuries and PTSD, as ensuring the health of our first responders is critical to a safer Saskatchewan.”
Previous funding provided to police agencies through this program has helped save lives.
The File Hills First Nations Police Service received funding for off-road equipment to enhance the service’s ability to locate missing persons and conduct search and rescue operations. Members recently used the equipment to find a woman in a wooded area in the dark.
“It is certainly gratifying to now have the capacity to extend our ability to efficiently access the many remote areas in our area,” File Hills First Nation Police Chief Len Busch said. “In this particular case I have little doubt that a life was saved because we had the equipment immediately on hand to be able do so. Our communities are safer because of it.”
The funding also helped purchase a camera and software for the Saskatoon Police Service’s plane. The equipment was used to help the RCMP find a legally blind man who was missing in a wooded area near North Battleford in February.
Saskatchewan’s Civil Forfeiture Program, through The Seizure of Criminal Property Act, 2009, seeks the forfeiture of property that is considered to be proceeds or an instrument of unlawful activity. Money from the forfeitures is deposited in the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund.
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For more information, contact:
Noel Busse
Corrections and Policing
Regina
Phone: 306-787-8959
Email: noel.busse@gov.sk.ca