Two new teams of Alberta sheriffs are being deployed to support policing in rural communities around the province.
The two teams of eight sheriffs will be based in Calgary and Edmonton but will be available upon request by rural police and RCMP.
While other Alberta sheriffs are focused on large-scale and organized crime, the new teams will tackle smaller-scale criminal activity.
Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis says Alberta has around 400 RCMP vacancies, and the province introduced legislation in March to give provincial sheriffs new responsibilities alongside municipal officers and the RCMP.
The teams, each consisting of seven plainclothes officers and a sergeant, are already gathering evidence and intelligence to help disrupt crime, according to Ellis.
The program will cost $2.1 million per year.
– Kyle Moore, Trending 55 Newsroom
