The Regina Police Service received $6.6 million from the Ministry of Corrections, Policing, and Public Safety and SGI to support various policing programs and initiatives, ensuring the continued delivery of targeted services.
The Ministry of Corrections, Policing, and Public Safety invested $5.7 million in the City of Regina through the Municipal Police Grants program. This funding will bolster 44 existing police service positions within the community.
Additionally, SGI contributed $900,000 for five positions as part of the Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan initiative, bringing the total funding for the Regina Police Service to $6.6 million for 49 police positions in the fiscal year 2023-24.
The Minister for Corrections, Policing, and Public Safety, Paul Merriman, emphasized the province’s commitment to safeguarding Saskatchewan’s people and communities.
“The province is committed to protecting Saskatchewan people and communities, and this investment will support several policing programs in the Regina Police Service.”
One of the highlighted programs benefiting from the funding is the Police and Crisis Team (PACT), which integrates police officers with mental health workers to provide a coordinated response to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis in the community.
This year, the province is allocating $114,400 in new funding for an additional PACT position.
The funding also plays a crucial role in supporting the Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) program, dedicated to investigating online child exploitation cases.
Regina Mayor Sandra Masters expressed gratitude to the province for its ongoing support, emphasizing the commitment to building a safer community for residents.
“We are committed to building a safer community for our residents, and the Municipal Police Grant enables the Regina Police Service to coordinate and expand their delivery of critical services to meet the evolving needs of our city.”
Regina Police Service Acting Chief Dean Rae also expressed gratitude for the support.
“The Regina Police Service works around the clock to investigate criminal activity and proactively address crime and victimization in our community,” he said. “Continued support from the Province of Saskatchewan, through this grant, funds a number of positions at Regina Police Service which are integral in this work. The province’s commitment to public safety and well-being through this grant is invaluable for our police service and for our community.”
Rae also acknowledged the continuous efforts of the police service in addressing criminal activity and victimization in the community.
