REGINA - The new role for Estevan's police chief is with the Saskatchewan Marshals Service (SMS).
A news release from the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety, issued Friday morning, provided an update on the efforts to launch the SMS by the end of 2026, and the release also announced the hiring of Richard Lowen as the new deputy chief marshal.
"It's a really unique experience to be on the ground floor of something, and be able to build it in a way that can help the entire province. It's going to be very interesting," said Lowen, who has been chief of the Estevan Police Service since September 2021.
The opportunity to create something new played a big role in his decision, said Lowen, but so did the opportunity to be part of a provincial initiative after more than 30 years in municipal policing.
"It's an exciting and a rare opportunity in a career, it's a once-in-a-lifetime," he said.
Operations will be a big part of his work. Lowen will work alongside executive director, Thomas Sierzycki, under the direction of Chief Marshall Rob Cameron.
"It's going to be a very unique agency to be able to operate anywhere in the province," said Lowen.
He first met Cameron when Cameron was in Manitoba and Lowen was still a member with the Winnipeg Police Service.
"When I met him here back at the start of my time in Saskatchewan, it was nice to have that familiarity," said Lowen.
The SMS will be headquartered out of Prince Albert, and Lowen will be moving to the north-central city.
He doesn't yet know if he'll be spending a lot of time on the road, or if he'll mostly be in Prince Albert. He plans on remaining with the SMS through the start of operations.
Lowen believes his time in Estevan will help him with the new job because he saw the needs of the region and the demands placed on law enforcement.
"We have a large square mile coverage of policing," said Lowen. "It's remarkable how much work gets done with the few officers that are in the southeast. That part was a bit of an eye-opener for me."
His time with the Winnipeg Police Service will also help him because he worked with a large organization and outside agencies.
Lowen has roughly 35 years of law enforcement experience. He started his career with the Winnipeg Police Service in 1989, progressing from general patrol to such roles as detective sergeant, staff sergeant, divisional commander and eventually superintendent before moving to the Estevan Police Service to serve as chief.
He was elected president of the Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police in 2023, and he also serves as the Saskatchewan director for the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. Among his accolades, he is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.
Lowen announced his resignation as Estevan's police chief during the June 11 meeting of the Estevan board of police commissioners, saying he had accepted a job in Saskatchewan law enforcement that he did not disclose at the time. His final day in Estevan will be Aug. 31.
"He brings with him an incredible breadth of experience from his more than 30-year career in policing," said Cameron. "I can think of no more suitable candidate to work alongside with as we carry forward the important work of the Saskatchewan Marshals Service."
The 2024-25 provincial budget has allocated $7 million toward the development of the SMS, with an annual budget of $20 million once it's operational. The SMS aims to enhance policing in the province with a particular focus on rural communities while supporting and assisting the RCMP, First Nations and municipal police services across the province.
The service will address gangs, rural crime, illegal weapons and drugs, and will work to apprehend high-risk individuals and offenders with outstanding warrants.
Renovations to the SMS district headquarters in Prince Albert are well underway and expected to be completed by the fall. Plans are also in place to establish four or five satellite offices in the province, with the potential for further expansion as necessary.
The SMS has developed the branding for its logo, vehicles, badges and marshals' uniforms.
Recruitment of civilian staff and experienced officers will intensify in the coming months, with positions expected to be posted this summer and training set to begin by February 2025 at the Saskatchewan Police College.
