Province selects first chief of Saskatchewan Marshals Service
The Saskatchewan Marshals Service has found its leader in former RCMP officer Robert Cameron.
According to the province, Cameron served in the RCMP for 30 years – retiring as a superintendent – prior to becoming the assistant deputy minister of policing and community safety services.
In that role, Cameron oversaw the launch of the Saskatchewan Provincial Protective Services Branch.
“It was a four person independent panel that looked at all the qualifications, and with Mr. Cameron's experience of 30 years in the RCMP and the various duties that he's done in RCMP, including F Division, he has a very good feel for what the needs of the marshal services is in Saskatchewan and we're very lucky to have him,” Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Paul Merriman explained.
As Chief Marshal, Cameron will oversee 70 officers with a focus on enhancing law enforcement and deterring criminal activity in rural areas experiencing high levels of crime, apprehending high-risk and prolific offenders as well as conduct investigations related to farming and agriculture offenses.
The Marshals will also support RCMP, municipal police operations and First Nations police as well.
The Saskatchewan NDP have said they are concerned over the independence of the Marshals from the government.
Policing critic Nicole Sarauer said Cameron’s hiring does not alleviate the opposition’s concerns.
“We still hear from municipalities who don't know what the marshals are going to be doing,” she told reporters. “I hear from folks in policing who don't know what the marshals are going to be doing; where they're going to be; what their mandate is going to be, where they're even going to be physically located.”
“So they could start from square one and actually reach out to hear from people about what they think is needed,” she added.
In his role as chief, Cameron will be responsible for developing the service in the lead up to its 2026 launch.
His appointment comes into effect Jan. 1, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian former Olympic snowboarder wanted in Ontario double homicide: DOJ
A Canadian former Olympic snowboarder who is suspected of being the leader of a transnational drug trafficking group that operated in four countries is wanted for allegedly orchestrating the murder of an 'innocent' couple in Ontario in 2023, authorities say.
Ontario school board trustees under fire for $100K religious art purchase on Italy trip
Trustees with an Ontario school board are responding to criticism over a $45,000 trip to Italy, where they purchased more than $100,000 worth of religious statues.
A photographer snorkeled for hours to take this picture
Shane Gross, a Canadian marine conservation photojournalist, has won the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
Tobacco giants would pay out $32.5 billion to provinces, smokers in proposed deal
Three tobacco giants are proposing to pay close to $25 billion to provinces and territories and more than $4 billion to some 100,000 Quebec smokers and their loved ones as part of a corporate restructuring process triggered by a long-running legal battle.
More Trudeau cabinet ministers not running for re-election, sources say shuffle expected soon
Federal cabinet ministers Filomena Tassi, Carla Qualtrough and Dan Vandal announced Thursday they will not run for re-election. Senior government sources tell CTV News at least one other, Marie-Claude Bibeau, doesn't plan to run again, setting the stage for Justin Trudeau to shuffle his cabinet in the coming weeks.
Robert Pickton's handwritten book seized after his death in hopes of uncovering new evidence
A handwritten book was seized from B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton's prison cell following his death earlier this year, raising hopes of uncovering new evidence in a series of unprosecuted murders.
Former members of One Direction say they're 'completely devastated' by Liam Payne's death
The former members of English boy band One Direction reacted publicly to the sudden death of their bandmate, Liam Payne, for the first time on Thursday, saying in a joint statement that they're 'completely devastated.'
Israel says it has killed top Hamas leader Yayha Sinwar in Gaza
Israeli forces in Gaza killed top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, a chief architect of last year's attack on Israel that sparked the war, the military said Thursday. Troops appeared to have run across him unknowingly in a battle, only to discover afterwards that a body in the rubble was Israel's most wanted man.
Indian government employee charged in foiled murder-for-hire plot in New York City
The U.S. Justice Department announced criminal charges Thursday against an Indian government employee in connection with a foiled plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader living in New York City.