$4.6 Million for Regina Police Service Targeted Policing Initiatives
The Government of Saskatchewan is taking action to ensure the safety of Regina neighbourhoods and families by providing $4.6 million in Municipal Police Grants to the Regina Police Service (RPS). This funding will support 39 RPS positions in 2015-16.
“Our government is focused on community safety,” Corrections and Policing Minister Christine Tell said. “This grant and the positions it funds provides the support needed to those working to protect Regina neighbourhoods and families.”
Municipal Police Grant funding builds on the partnerships between the government and municipal police forces to address key community safety priorities, including:
- Reducing the victimization and sexual exploitation of children through the Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit. ICE members identify victimized children, investigate cases of possession, production, and distribution of child pornography and internet luring, and help prosecute sexual offenders. ICE includes members from RPS, Saskatoon Police Service (SPS), Prince Albert Police Service (PAPS) and the RCMP.
- Combatting organized crime and gang activity through the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU). CFSEU’s mandate is to expose, investigate, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute organized crime. It includes members from RPS, SPS, PAPS and the RCMP.
- Holding chronic habitual offenders to account through the Serious and Habitual Offender Comprehensive Action Program (SHOCAP). SHOCAP provides intensive supervision and interagency case planning for designated habitual chronic offenders.
This funding also supports enhanced community and investigative policing initiatives and the Missing Persons Task Force.
“The Regina Police Service has been working very hard to maximize the number of officers on the street in our city,” Regina Mayor and Board of Police Commissioners Chair Michael Fougere said. “We know that our citizens consider public safety a top priority, and the province’s continued support is absolutely critical in maintaining a safe community.”
“We are grateful for the province’s commitment through the Municipal Police Grants,” Regina Police Service Chief Troy Hagen said. “These funds provide capacity to acquire specialized skills, carry out complex investigations, hold offenders to account and ultimately enhance community safety and the well-being of individual members of our society.”
The provincial government annually provides funds for 125 municipal police positions and policing initiatives across the province. This grant fulfills the government’s commitment for 120 new police officers and is part of the ministry’s ongoing commitment to supporting municipal policing services.