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By Brendan Miller

Alberta sheriffs receive increased funding from province

Mar 24, 2023 | 4:48 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The province has announced a budget increase to provide Alberta sheriffs more funding to fight rural crime.

The government says they will be spending $27.3 million to hire more sheriffs and provide them with additional training and tools to enhance their enforcement.

The new officers will perform functions like traffic enforcement, prisoner transportation and security to provincial courtrooms.

In addition, the province is creating two new sheriff surveillance teams that will asset RCMP detachments in need of investigational support with organized crimes.

The budget increase will also allow the province to expand its RAPID response initiative to combat rural crime and support rural police.

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Mike Ellis, minister of public safety and emergency services, says illegal activity has been on the rise in rural properties across the province.

“I’ve heard countless stories of home invasions being committed by prolific offenders, thefts from farms. Every property owner has a right to feel safe in their home and right not to worry about waking up to find their equipment gone or fuel siphoned from vehicles,” Ellis told reporters.

The changes will also give all Alberta sheriffs full power to make arrests under the criminal code.

“These new plans will ensure that when an Albertan turns to an officer in an emergency they will get help regardless of the uniform that the officer is wearing,” said Ellis.

Ellis says hiring more sheriffs will fill a gap by helping RCMP detachments with local investigations that the current budget model doesn’t account for.