REGINA — The provincial government is putting a pause to the Saskatchewan Marshals Service's plans for a Specialized Response Unit.
Minister of Community Safety Michael Weger issued a statement confirming that the Marshals plans to develop that unit, as well as their PFP for tactical police equipment including multi-shot launchers, ballistic shields and a long range acoustic device, will not go ahead. His statement is as follows:
“I have told the Saskatchewan Marshals Service to pause the development of the Specialized Response Unit. There will be no equipment purchased for this unit. The Marshals’ focus going forward will be on working alongside the Saskatchewan RCMP, Municipal and First Nations police forces to strengthen community safety and protect residents across the province.”
Earlier this week Premier Scott Moe had cast doubt on the Marshals' service plans, saying the government had questions about whether the RFP should go ahead and that the focus ought to be on supporting police forces and the RCMP.
In a statement NDP Community Safety critic Hugh Gordon called for the government to be "transparent with the people of Saskatchewan about how much public money went in to this non-existent unit that is now being put on pause." He also called for them release the total cost of all the equipment the Marshals have purchased to date.
"The only reason this equipment purchase is being put on hold is that the Sask. Party got caught," Gordon said in a news release. "The time and resources wasted chasing expensive equipment for a team that does not exist could have been used to support recovery programs, tackle gangs, support victims, or address the massive staffing shortages facing police detachments across the province."
Both Minister Weger and MLA Gordon are scheduled to speak further with the media about the pause announcement later today.
Breaking news… Stay tuned for further updates.
