I felt like saluting …

Sheriffs play an integral role to promote safe and secure communities throughout the province of Alberta. Sheriffs have a diverse role within public security and cover a wide range of activities, which include:

 

Their core function: Court Security and Prisoner Transport: provides court security and prisoner escorts for Alberta’s 73 court facilities across the province as well as perimeter security services to regional and base court facilities.

 

Alberta security and strategic intelligence support team (ASSIST): manages counter-terrorism security information and intelligence and develop threat assessments.

 

Executive protection services: includes personal security to the Premier, members of Cabinet as required, the Lieutenant Governor and members of the Judiciary and quasi-judicial boards.

 

Facilities security: provides security consultation, audit services for provincial facilities and maintenance of a 24-hour security control centre at Government Centre. Security services are provided to key government buildings and specialized security services are provided to conferences. Sheriffs also assist police and other agencies with public order and special events.

 

Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Unit (SCAN): improves community safety by targeting properties used for illegal activities such as drugs, gangs, and prostitution. It also holds owners accountable for what takes place on their property (part of the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team).

 

Sheriffs Investigative Support Unit (SISU): provides surveillance support to major police investigations (part of the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team).

 

Sheriff Operations Communications Centre (SOCC): provides provincial radio communications and dispatch for sheriffs in the Province [warrant control and maintenance].

 

 

Everything seems nice and dandy, but why a third group of police officers in Alberta?  In Edmonton, we have our local Edmonton Police Service and of course, there are the RCMP.  The purpose of the Sheriffs are not to take away from the current roles of the RCMP or municipal police, but augment and support.  There are currently almost 700 sheriffs throughout Alberta. Each Sheriff provides support in the communities and community involvement is highly encouraged for individual staff.  The philosophy of tiering surrounds this model of policing.

 

The Sheriffs are only a provincial entity.  As mentioned, their core function is court security and prisoner transfer.  Sheriffs are cost effective and they allow police, who are more trained, to handle other matters.  Essentially, Sheriffs are law enforcement support at a reduced cost.  In 2006, an integrated traffic service was introduced with the RCMP.  Fatal collisions have been reduced by 24.9% and injury collisions have been reduced by 26.8% [2007-2010]. It’s an interesting phenomenon that regardless of the type of vehicle [RCMP, City or Sheriff], drivers tend to slow down. 

 

For more information:  www.sheriffs.gov.ab.ca