REGINA – Regina Police Service will be renovating its firearms range soon with the help of proceeds of crime that were seized and recovered.
The Government of Saskatchewan announced it is redirecting proceeds of crime through the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund to the Regina Police Service indoor firearms range facility, which is used for training by RPS and other law enforcement, including police college recruits.
A total of $280,000 is going to Regina Police Service to upgrade the firearms range, with an equal amount going to the Victims Fund to support victims of crime.
According to the province’s news release, under the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund forfeited cash and other assets are converted into cash under The Seizure of Criminal Property Act, and distributed to enhance public safety and assist victims in the province.
The announcement of funding was made at the indoor firing range by Michael Weger, Legislative Secretary for the Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety.
He said since this fund began over $10 million has been distributed, with over $1.6 million approved for 2025. Further announcements are coming soon on where the remaining funds will be distributed.
As for how decisions are made on who or what receives funding, Weger said there is a committee set up with individuals from the agencies that receive the funds.
“So, we have two representatives from each,” said Weger. “Minister of Justice has two representatives, and then regarding Victim Services, there’s two representatives. So, they sit sort of on a panel. But the asks come from the municipal police services. So, in this case, Regina Police Service put in a request for this funding. And it’s important to note, we’ve approved their full request — the full amount that they requested has been approved with this today.”
As for the types of crimes for which proceeds could be directed into the fund, those include from drug trafficking, but also proceeds from stolen property or the sale of stolen property.
Weger said what was unique about this system is that the police officers who do the hard work to track down criminals and make the drug busts are then the ones that get to benefit from it.
“So, I think that’s what’s really important with the whole system and why it’s so unique is that the women and men in law enforcement are doing the hard work to track down these criminals, make the arrest, get the conviction, seize the property, seize the cash, and then ultimately it comes back to help them train to do their job better.”
The renovations are expected to happen by the end of June next year. As for what those will be, among the changes they are looking to do is soundproofing, as the current facility has concrete walls that amplifies sounds considerably for those inside the range and for workers in the rest of the building.
Other renovations will see the firing range get away from having trainees stand in the glass booths at the back, and make it more of an open range with more ability for officers to move around to make for a more realistic experience.
“So, just increased improved scenario training to enhance officer training is a big part,” said Deputy Police Chief Trent Stevely.
He also said the soundproofing will help those in the rest of the building. “Yeah, it’ll just improve the work environment for sure.”
Overall, Stevely is pleased to see the officers’ hard work in addressing crime benefit them with funds for renovations to the firearms range.
“It’s great, it’s a wonderful system, it’s a great law, it’s an added benefit, it gives us the opportunity to receive back what we put in,” said Stevely. “It’s nothing but good things. We have a good relationship with the government and ministry, so it’s nothing but positive things.”
