January 13, 2016
Province Launches Training for First Nations Safety Officers
– – –New Program Tailored to Meet Specific Needs of Communities: Minister Mackintosh
Specialized training to support the new First Nations Safety Officer Program has launched in Thompson, supporting the goals of community safety and crime reduction in dozens of participating communities, Attorney General Gord Mackintosh announced today.
"The First Nations Safety Officer Program is an important milestone in our province and we are excited to see this partnership with First Nation communities and the federal government move forward,” said Minister Mackintosh. “Officers who are well-trained, and who know and understand their own communities, are critical to improving public safety for First Nations people.”
“Safety is a big concern in many of our communities, which is why the First Nations Safety Officer Program has been established to replace the Band Constable program cancelled by the previous federal government,” said Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Eric Robinson. “I am pleased that we are moving forward to ensure safety officers will be equipped with the training they need to help keep their communities safe.”
Over the next several months, more than 100 prospective safety officers will receive three weeks of training focused on:
- public safety and crime prevention;
- victims and social services;
- enforcement powers;
- arrests;
- searches and seizures;
- use of force and officer safety; and
- administrative tasks such as note-taking, report writing, interviewing basics and court preparation.
“First Nations communities deserve the same quality of policing and public safety that all Manitobans are entitled to,” said Grand Chief Sheila North Wilson, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak. “We acknowledge this new program as a step toward public safety on First Nations that will provide safety officers from the communities with the necessary training to achieve that goal.”
The ministers noted that First Nation Safety Officers will work closely with local law enforcement agencies, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, to enhance public safety in their communities. Officers’ responsibilities will generally include crime prevention, and enforcing band bylaws and some specific provincial laws.
“We look forward to this new partnership with the First Nation Safety Officers,” RCMP Asst. Commissioner Kevin Brosseau, commanding officer, D Division. “They will be an important resource for communities and will work closely with RCMP officers across northern Manitoba to prevent crime and enhance public safety.”
The training is being delivered by Assiniboine Community College in Thompson, Dauphin and Brandon. It is currently being offered to participants from 31 communities that received federal funding for band constables.
The Manitoba government introduced amendments to the Police Services Act in November 2014 to create the First Nation Safety Officer Program in response to the termination of the federal Band Constable Program. The legislation provides the framework for a First Nation to create a program in response to the unique public safety needs of its community.
The ministers noted in 2015-16, the Canada and Manitoba governments are providing a total of $2.7 million to implement and support this new service.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION ATTACHED
Backgrounder
Background Information - https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/newslinks/2016/01/RLS-First_Nations_Safety_Officer_BG-JS.doc