Through Municipal Police Grants, the Government of Saskatchewan help to keep communities and families in Weyburn safe.

“The Weyburn Police Service or the Weyburn Board of Police Commissioners receives about $400,000 of funding from the provincial government,” said Weyburn Police Chief Marlo Pritchard. “It’s a huge benefit to our service and our community and our services that we are able to supply.”

He added that the grant it funds three officers as well as some equipment.

“It’s three police officers that are not funded by our local tax dollars. It’s coming from the province to help combat crime and make our community safer,” said Pritchard.

The Ministry of Corrections and Policing’s contribution of $220,000 will fund two existing Weyburn Police Service positions in 2018-19. This includes funding for a position with the Serious/Organized Crime Task Force, which responds to gang activity and organized criminal groups.

“We do have an investigative unit and the other ones are part of the combined traffic unit, so they work with Estevan and the RCMP, and increase the safety of our highways and streets, focusing on our driving habits,” Pritchard explained.

Saskatchewan Government Insurance has also provided $180,000 to Weyburn for a police officer as part of the Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan initiative. The unit works to improve safety on the highways through increased awareness and enforcement of traffic regulations.

“There are some requirements with that funding, it’s not just $400,000 and you can do with it what you want,” he clarified. “There are some duties that we need to focus on, but it’s tied into that bigger public safety picture for the province.”

“These grants are important to help local authorities tackle crime and make our communities safer, which is a priority for our government,” Environment Minister and Weyburn-Big Muddy MLA Dustin Duncan said on behalf of Corrections and Policing Minister Christine Tell.

The Ministry of Corrections and Policing provides funds to urban police services across the province to support 128 municipal police positions and policing initiatives.

“This financial support reinforces the provincial government’s commitment to ensuring our communities are safe and helps support the outstanding efforts of the Weyburn Police Service,” Weyburn Mayor Marcel Roy said. “As mayor of the City of Weyburn, I welcome this positive initiative.”

“These funded officers increase our capacity to respond to the needs of the community and surrounding area, increasing the safety for everyone,” Weyburn Police Service Chief of Police Marlo Pritchard said. “In these challenging economic times, this funding is crucial for us to maintain the level of service expected by our citizens.”