The Saskatchewan government is rolling out a new funding model for small-town police departments, marking the first time these local services will receive direct provincial financial support.
Read more: RCMP investigate suspicious death of North Battleford woman
The Small Town and Rural (STAR) Police Services Grant Program will invest $190,000 for the 2026-27 fiscal year. Under the new initiative, the province will provide $10,000 for every sworn officer serving in participating rural police services.
Historically, these departments have relied entirely on municipal funding. Community Safety Minister Michael Weger said the grant recognizes the “essential work” these officers do in supporting RCMP operations across the province.
“With the STAR Grant Program, we are ensuring every police service in Saskatchewan has the provincial support they need to deliver strong, community-focused policing,” Weger said in a release Wednesday.
Five local police services will receive funding in the program’s inaugural year:
- Corman Park Police Service: $110,000 (11 officers)
- Vanscoy Police Service: $30,000 (three officers)
- Dalmeny Police Service: $20,000 (two officers)
- Wilton Police Service: $20,000 (two officers)
- Luseland Police Service: $10,000 (one officer)
Joe Hargrave, reeve of the Rural Municipality of Corman Park, welcomed the move, calling it a “positive step toward a more balanced and sustainable model” for community safety.
The grant aims to improve response times and assist with officer recruitment and retention by giving smaller departments more operational flexibility. These services primarily handle property damage calls, traffic collisions, and the enforcement of provincial statutes and municipal bylaws.
Robert A. Duttchen, chief of the Corman Park Police Service, said the investment allows smaller agencies to continue delivering “significant results with limited resources.”
The province said the STAR program is intended to complement existing funding already provided to the RCMP, as well as municipal and First Nations police services.
Read more: Meadow Lake goalie backstops gold-medallists
