WESTERN PRODUCER — Cpl. Owen Third worked at the RCMP for 18 years before becoming livestock investigator, a role new to the RCMP.
With two in Alberta and one in British Columbia, he said it was time Saskatchewan had one, as well.
“When I started at the beginning of October, it was number one, getting to know people in the industry,” Third said.
“I like getting out there and talking to people.”
Third has a variety of jobs as a livestock investigator — predominantly, working on files regarding missing or stolen livestock. Another important part of the job is education, for producers and members of the RCMP, he said.
For producers, Third’s primary goal is to bridge gaps between officers and ranchers, as well as to ensure producers know he is around as a resource.
For members of the RCMP, he is focused on educating them to know what to look for when it comes to cattle.
“We try to familiarize them with what to look for, how to read brands, making sure manifests are completed properly,” he said. “A number of missing livestock are being transported down the highway so it’s one of the things I’m trying to work on with our members.”
Third also said he is working on educating crown prosecutors to ensure crimes of this nature see the appropriate type of justice because, he said, courts in Saskatchewan often aren’t familiar with issues related to livestock.
Although Third is the only person in this role in Saskatchewan, Jason Pollock, chief executive officer of Livestock Services of Saskatchewan, said he already sees an improvement by having Third in the position.
“I think the number one improvement has been the response time of detachments and the ability for him to take a file that starts maybe in Carlyle and touches into Moosomin or Weyburn and all the different detachments, and he’s able to stick handle it through the RCMP system because he’s on the inside,” Pollock said. “LSS has never been able to do that.”
Pollock also said he believes having a livestock investigator will act as a deterrent.
“Policing in this province is a challenge because of the large geographic area. But if there’s a presence it’s going to reduce the number of people that think there’s an opportunity.”
