First class of Sask. marshals recruits sworn in, start job May 5
New recruits will be based in Prince Albert
The first recruits to the Saskatchewan Marshals Service (SMS) were sworn in to service and are set to start their new jobs May 5.
Nine recruits took an oath at a ceremony in Prince Albert on Thursday. The new provincial police force wasn't expected to launch until 2026, but the timeline moved up as recruitment and hiring for key positions progressed more quickly than planned.
The SMS focused on recruiting law enforcement veterans for the initial cohort. Deputy Chief Marshal Richard Lowen said the first nine recruits have a combined 200 years of policing experience.
"Your experience will be invaluable to the future of the marshals service," Lowen said while addressing the recruits.
"While your past experiences have shaped you, the road ahead will challenge you in new ways."
Marshal Josh Peterson is a former Prince Albert police officer and one of two valedictorians who spoke at the ceremony. He told his fellow recruits they have a chance to shape the reputation of the new police service.
"We can set the expectations for what we want the organization to be," Peterson said.
"And as front-line members, we will exhibit that example every day and as we hire on more people, they will be held to those standards."
Peterson said he has a good reason for switching jobs.
"Rather than waiting for something to happen within city limits of Prince Albert, now I can respond anywhere in the province that needs our help," Peterson said.
"So that's going to be part of our job as well, to let the public know that we are actually police, just like the municipal police services, just like the RCMP."
Marshals will focus on rural crime, finding high-risk offenders and people with outstanding warrants, while also assisting RCMP and First Nations and municipal police services. The annual budget for the provincial police force is about $20 million.
The province plans to hire 70 marshals plus support personnel. Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Tim McLeod said in March he expects 50 marshals will be on duty by the end of this fiscal year.
The nine recruits are based in Prince Albert. The SMS also established a regional office in North Battleford.
The critics
The Saskatchewan Marshals Service is not without controversy.
Earlier this month, SMS confirmed one of its members was the subject of complaint being investigated by the Public Complaints Commission, a five-person civilian body appointed by the provincial government. The member has been put on administrative leave as the investigation is carried out.
The province faced criticism for poaching recruits from the ranks of other police services in Saskatchewan. The union for RCMP members and almost 90 communities signed a letter urging the province to pause the marshals service.
In October, the NDP criticized the Saskatchewan government for spending more than $41,000 on hats for the marshals service.
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