Alberta Sheriffs group seeks assurances around staffing and funding

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The Alberta Sheriff’s Advocate said that while it supports the creation of a new provincial police department, it also seeks assurance of concerns about the future of work, loss of expertise and decreased morale.

In a statement released Wednesday, the Sheriff’s Chapter Officials Association (SBOA) delivered a speech Oppose the province’s bill No. 49 Introduction on Tuesdaythis further moves towards the establishment of new provincial policy institutions.

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The group is most concerned about comments from Public Safety Secretary Mike Ellis, saying his department has determined that about 600 sheriffs can receive adequate training from their role as a peace police officer to police.

IT noted that the 600 sheriffs would be about half of the sheriffs.

It added that if this shift occurs, the remaining 600 sheriffs have no clear plans.

“It is unclear how the remaining sheriffs can manage these responsibilities, resulting in inefficiency or service gaps.”

SBOA president and Edmonton-based Sheriff Dornubari Tornwe told Postmedia that sheriffs often support creating a new provincial police department, but wondered how they would like to deal with their work if their workforce was cut in half.

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“We have a lot of questions, we don’t have an answer,” he said.

“We hope to have a discussion with him at some point.”

Ellis’s office said in a statement that the decisions of personnel related to the new ministry will be decided by the yet-unnamed incoming chief.

“Once a choice is made, it will allow for the recruitment of an execution team in the future that can focus on the implementation of the plan.”

The SBOA was launched in July and said it would advocate on behalf of the provincial sheriff. It attempted to become a recognized union, but the province did not respond to its request.

Until then, the Alberta Federation of Employees (AUPE) remained the legal representative of the bargaining agent and the sheriff.

AUPE Vice President Bobby-Joe Borodey said in a statement that Bill 49 is increasing the scope of work for the sheriff and that salaries and benefits must be increased.

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“If this new police force is expected to succeed, the first step must be to create conditions that allow it to recruit and retain officials.”

Opposition public safety critic David Shepherd called on the government to reconsider the legislation, saying it had no support.

“The Alberta Sheriff itself is saying they don’t want to be part of the provincial police force,” he said, adding that he believes the sheriff’s spread in parts of the province is too thin.

“They are worried about resources. They are worried about manpower.”

mblack@postmedia.com

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