WEYBURN — Weyburn residents concerned about neighbourhood safety and police response times will see continued investment in local policing, as the Government of Saskatchewan expands its Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) enforcement initiative.
For 2025-26, the province has allocated nearly $6 million to support its multi-year plan to add roughly 100 frontline officers across Saskatchewan. Part of that funding includes $238,000 for the Weyburn Police Service to maintain two SCAN officer positions created last year, announced the province on Tuesday.
"As a resident of Weyburn, I know firsthand how important strong, responsive policing is to our community," said Community Safety Minister Michael Weger. "The people who live here care deeply about their neighbourhoods and neighbours. They deserve a police service that has the resources and supports it needs to meet public safety expectations. This investment will help ensure officers can continue working to keep our families safe, strengthen community trust, and support the wellbeing of everyone in Weyburn for years to come."
Weyburn Mayor Jeff Richards said the continued funding will have a direct impact on day-to-day policing, increasing the Weyburn Police Service’s visibility and presence.
“It gives our police service more capacity to focus on issues residents care about most like safe neighbourhoods and timely responses to calls,” said Richards. “We appreciate the Government of Saskatchewan's commitment to policing investments that help us keep our community safe and welcoming for all."
Weyburn Police Service Chief Brent VanDeSype said the demands on officers continue to grow, and provincial support is essential.
"Funding provided by the Ministry of Community Safety, through the SCAN initiative, is critical in helping meet these ever-changing challenges,” said VanDeSype. “The ministry's support directly impacts our frontline officers and strengthens our service, enabling us to better serve the community of Weyburn. We are very fortunate and thankful to the Government of Saskatchewan for their much-needed continued support."
The province says its partnership with municipal police forces remains central to its public-safety strategy. By investing in additional frontline officers and supporting local agencies, officials say they aim to enhance response capabilities and ensure officers can attend more calls for service across Saskatchewan.
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