REGINA — The Saskatchewan government is following through on promises to improve rural policing with the creation of the Provincial Protective Services branch.
The PPS will fall within the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety, uniting multiple provincial law enforcement agencies together — including conservation, highway patrol, community safety officers and court security deputy sheriffs.
The new branch will take over some responsibilities from the RCMP, like inmate transport and investigative follow-ups, to allow RCMP officers more availability to focus on policing mandates.
Examples of extended duties provided to agencies under the PPS branch include allowing highway patrol officers to conduct full arrests during traffic stops without the aid of RCMP, or conservation officers to address related offenses when responding to calls.
“Creating the PPS Branch supports Saskatchewan's Growth Plan goal of building safer communities by ensuring the protection of people, natural resources and infrastructure," said Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Christine Tell.
Allowing provincial officers more time to respond to incidents will improve public safety, said a statement from the Ministry of Justice, and increase collaboration between law enforcement agencies and police.
"Enforcement officers will not be required to respond to any incidents for which they are not trained," said the Ministry of Justice.
It will also address some “operational gaps and jurisdictional issues” that stem from separate command structures in agencies, said the province.
The transition of duties will begin in the spring, with the branch anticipated to be fully operational by the end of 2023.
