Saskatchewan Marshals Service

Saskatchewan Marshals Service
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Agency overview
FormedMarch 2025
Preceding agency
Annual budget$20 million (planned)
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionSaskatchewan
Operational structure
HeadquartersPrince Albert, Saskatchewan
Sworn members10
Elected officer responsible
  • Tim McLeod, Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety
Agency executive
  • Rob Cameron, Chief Marshal
Website
Official website

The Saskatchewan Marshals Service (SMS) is a provincial police service with jurisdiction in the province of Saskatchewan. The SMS will reportedly focus its enforcement efforts on serious crime, such as drug and gang activity,[1] while providing assistance to other police forces in Saskatchewan, including the RCMP.[2][3] Another area the SMS will focus on is agricultural crimes such as cattle theft and trespassing.[4]

Current plans suggest that it will be fully operational by late 2025,[5] despite previous expectations being that it would not launch until 2026.[6]

Officers who are recruited into the SMS are known as Marshals.[7]

History

[edit]

On November 3, 2022, it was announced through a throne speech that the Saskatchewan Marshals Service will be established.[8] By November 7, 2023, the Government of Saskatchewan announced new legislation would be passed in order to legalize the existence of the SMS.[9] The Police (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act, 2023, which amends The Police Act, 1990, specifically mentioned the SMS as a police service.[10] The act received royal assent on March 19, 2024.[11] In response to plans to create the SMS, then-Sakatchewan RCMP Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore said that the funds being allocated could be used to fund F Division's operations.[12]

On November 29, 2023, it was announced that Rob Cameron would head the SMS as its chief marshal.[13] At the time of his appointment, Cameron was a deputy assistant minister of the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety (MCPPS).[13] The ministry said it had received 12 applicants from across Canada for the position.[14]

On June 21, 2024, the SMS recruited Richard Lowen, formerly with the Winnipeg and Estevan Police Services, as the service's Deputy Chief Marshal.[15] The service's insignia was also unveiled.[15]

In March 2025, it was announced that the service's first regional headquarters will be established in the North Battleford region, led by Inspector Tim Garland.[16] The headquarters will open in the fall of 2025 and serve as a base to eleven sworn officers, in addition to civilian support staff.[17] It was also reported in the same month that the SMS will start working alongside the Weyburn Police Service.[18]

On May 30, 2025, the SMS reported that Phase 2 of its integration and operations process by working alongside officers of the Prince Albert Police Service (PAPS).[19] The SMS reported that they will work with the PAPS in certain cases where sustained attention is required.[20] Inspector Garland mentioned the importance of getting the public to know more about the SMS and the work that they'll do once they become fully operational.[21]

In June 2025, SMS Marshals are deployed in Saskatchewan in the midst of the 2025 Canadian wildfires to ensure evacuated towns are not targeted by looters.[22]

In the Saskatchewan provincial budget for 2025-2026, the 2025-26 Budget report stated that around CAD$4 million will be allocated to hire 50 more marshals for the SMS.[23] Under Protection of Persons and Property, CAD$4 million was allocated to support implementation of the service.[24]

Recruitment

[edit]

The SMS' first officers were sworn in in March of 2025 and started their jobs the following May.[6][25]

From June 2025, the Marshals Service was recruiting individuals without prior policing experience, as well as experienced officers. New recruits must fulfil several entry requirements, such as being either a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, completion of a physical test, and completion of at least a Grade 12 education. New recruits will undergo basic training and field training with a total duration of 25 weeks. The entry-level salary for a recruit with no prior policing experience is roughly $96,000.[26]

Experienced officers can forgo the basic and field training and complete a fast-track programme, provided that they graduated from a police training programme that is recognized by the Saskatchewan Police Commission, and that they were employed as a police officer within the last three years.[27] For experienced officers, the training programme takes seven weeks to complete and consists of in-service training, mandatory qualifications, as well as online coursework. The training focuses on firearms, tactical emergency casualty care, high risk vehicle stops and education on Indigenous culture.[28]

50 officers are expected to be recruited in total by the end of 2025.[29] It is expected that the SMS will have 70 active duty officers by 2026.[30]

Organization

[edit]

The minister in charge of the MCPPS is responsible for appointing the SMS Chief Marshal.[31][32]

Oversight

[edit]

The SMS is held accountable for potential wrongdoings through the following:[33]

  1. Government of Saskatchewan through The Saskatchewan Police Act.
  2. The Minister’s SMS Advisory Council
  3. Public Complaints Commission
  4. Saskatchewan Police Commission
  5. Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT)

Controversies

[edit]

In August 2024, the National Police Federation launched a call to action urging the Government of Saskatchewan to pause funding for the Marshals Service.[34] They claimed that the creation of the new agency would cost $14 million in start-up costs and that the government had failed to engage with its constituents before deciding to go ahead with the creation.[35] Going forward, the National Police Federation estimates that the annual operation costs of the Marshals Service will be approximately $20 million.[36] In November 2023, Saskatchewan rural councillors voted against a motion that called for the Saskatchewan provincial government to halt the creation of the SMS.[37]

During the 2024 Saskatchewan general election campaign, Saskatchewan New Democratic Party leader Carla Beck promised to redirect funds from the newly created Marshals Service, instead using the money to hire 100 RCMP members and 100 municipal police officers.[38][39] The NDP claimed that the government had spent more than $40,000 for less than 100 campaign hats, meaning that the cost per hat was $587.[38]

In March 2025, the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party's house leader Nicole Sarauer expressed concern that new Marshals Service recruits had been "poached" from the RCMP and other municipal police forces. However, none of the service's first ten sworn officers had previously served with the RCMP. To date, the SMS has only recruited one ex-RCMP member from British Columbia, who is expected to start in the fall of 2025.[28]

In April 2025, before the service began its operations, an officer of the Marshals Service was put on administrative leave pending an investigation by the Public Complaints Commission.[40] It was reported that no further details on the complaint would be released while the investigation is still ongoing.[41][42]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Langager, Brody. "What to expect from new police force, as Sask. marshals prepare to get sworn in". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  2. ^ "Saskatchewan Marshals Service - SARM Mid-Term Convention" (PDF). Saskatchewan Marshals Service. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  3. ^ Steve Chisholm (2025-05-03). "Training begins for Saskatchewan Marshals Service experienced officers". CJW Radio. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  4. ^ Glenda-Lee Vossler (2024-06-12). "Saskatchewan Marshals Service Update".
  5. ^ "Contact us". Saskatchewan Marshals Service. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  6. ^ a b Warren, Jeremy. "First class of Sask. marshals recruits sworn in, start job May 5". CBC. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  7. ^ Gordon Edgar (2024-12-18). "Provincial Marshals Service ahead of schedule, expected to be operational summer 2025". Discover Moose Jaw. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  8. ^ "Province Introduces Marshals Service Funds Expansion Of RCMP Teams". Government of Saskatchewan. 2022-11-03.
  9. ^ "Government Takes Next Step to Implement Marshals Service, Updates SIRT Legislation". Government of Saskatchewan. 2023-11-07.
  10. ^ "The Police (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act, 2023" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  11. ^ "Progress of Bills - 29th Legislature, 4th Session" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  12. ^ Colin Freeze (2022-11-17). "RCMP commander questions Saskatchewan's plan for new Marshals Service". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2025-07-02.
  13. ^ a b "Government Appoints Chief Marshal for Saskatchewan Marshals Service". Government of Saskatchewan. 2023-11-29.
  14. ^ James, Thia. "Province appoints retired RCMP officer to head Sask. Marshals Service". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  15. ^ a b Susan McNeil (2024-06-21). "Marshals reveal new crest, hire deputy chief marshal". Laronge Now. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  16. ^ Cameron Koch (2025-03-28). "Sask. Marshals Service creates first Regional Headquarters". Discover Moose Jaw.
  17. ^ "Saskatchewan Marshals Service Establishes New Regional HQ". Saskatchewan Marshals Service. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  18. ^ Natasha Wiebe (2025-03-26). "WPS look forward to partnership with new Saskatchewan Marshal Service". Discovery Weyburn. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  19. ^ "Saskatchewan Marshals Service Phase 2 Deployment". Saskatchewan Marshals Service. 2025-05-30. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  20. ^ Neil Billinger (2025-05-30). "New Marshals Service working with Prince Albert Police". CJW Radio. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  21. ^ Antoine Pejot-Charrost (2025-06-03). "Déploiement des premiers agents du Saskatchewan Marshals Service" (in French). Radio Canada. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  22. ^ Sara Parks. "Sask. in touch with Ottawa, but doesn't want military help at this time". Sask Today. Retrieved 2025-07-02.
  23. ^ "Provincial Budget - 2025-26" (PDF). Government of Saskatchewan. p. 17.
  24. ^ "Provincial Budget - 2025-26" (PDF). Government of Saskatchewan. p. 31.
  25. ^ "Saskatchewan Marshals Services hires first 10 officers, training to begin". Global News. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  26. ^ "Pay and benefits". Saskatchewan Marshals Service. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  27. ^ "Become a marshal". Saskatchewan Marshals Service. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  28. ^ a b Cairns, John. "None of ten Marshals' recruits are former RCMP". SaskToday. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  29. ^ Susan McNeil (2025-03-04). "First Marshals to start work in June, 50 officers to be hired by end of 2025". Prince Albert Now. Retrieved 2025-07-02.
  30. ^ "Sask. Marshals first regional headquarters to open in North Battleford this fall". Battlefords Now. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  31. ^ "The Police (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act, 2023" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. p. 3. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  32. ^ "Government Appoints Chief Marshal for Saskatchewan Marshals Service". Government of Saskatchewan. 2023-11-29.
  33. ^ "Oversight". Saskatchewan Marshal Service. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  34. ^ Pratyush Dayal (2024-08-09). "RCMP union, nearly 90 concerned municipalities call on province to pause Sask. Marshals Service". CBC News.
  35. ^ "Saskatchewan Municipalities Urge Pause on Marshals Service Funding". National Police Federation. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  36. ^ "The Issue". Our SK RCMP. National Police Federation. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  37. ^ Karen Briere (2023-11-16). "Rural municipalities support new Saskatchewan marshals service". The Western Producer. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  38. ^ a b Mantika, Wayne. "Sask. Marshals Service hats cost too much money, NDP says". Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  39. ^ Simes, Jeremy. "Sask. NDP promise to hire 200 police officers, redirect money from marshals service". CBC News. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  40. ^ "Saskatchewan Marshals Service member under investigation". CKOM News. 2025-04-12. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  41. ^ Quon, Alexander. "Saskatchewan marshals employee placed on leave before service officially up and running". CBC. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  42. ^ "Saskatchewan marshals employee put on leave before service launches". Regina Leader Post. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
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