Sniper rifles, ballistic helmets on provincial wish list for Sask. marshals

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The Saskatchewan NDP’s Hugh Gordon speaks outside of the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency in Saskatoon on Millar Avenue in Saskatoon on Aug. 17, 2026. (Image Credit: Libby Gray/CKOM)

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Hugh Gordon, the Saskatchewan NDP’s deputy critic of public safety, spent more than two decades as an RCMP officer before retiring and opening Gordon Special Investigations.

Gordon told media on Monday that the Saskatchewan Marshals Service is having difficulty recruiting officers, with less than 30 officers as part of the force at this time.

“They’re buying all this equipment, this specialized equipment, which is going to have a significant dollar value attached to it,” Gordon said. “The problem with that is its mandate. No one knows what their mandate is.”

Gordon said the Saskatchewan NDP has spoken with a number of police officers and agencies across the province who are all unclear as to the mandate of the marshals.

“This equipment seems to suggest that they’re going to have a different mandate than what even the head of the marshals had said during budget estimates this spring,” Gordon said, recalling that high-risk crime investigations, warrant enforcement and assisting other agencies were the three areas that have been previously identified as part of the marshals mandate.

However, Gordon said the marshals are not presently engaging with high-risk crime investigations, other agencies like the Saskatchewan RCMP are conducting warrant enforcement, and the areas of assistance being lent to other agencies by the marshals remains undefined.

Given the high cost of equipment, which can also require specialized training and annual certification for use, Gordon said not having a mandate for the marshals makes these expenses concerning and requiring justification.

“A lot of this equipment, some of it they may need, some of it seems to be justified, but some of the other stuff, like the ballistic helmets, the shields, the sound cannon. A lot of this appears to be like they’re going to be the first people through the door kind of equipment, but they’ve already said they don’t want to do that,” Gordon stated.

Gordon noted some of the equipment listed can cost tens of thousands of dollars per unit.

“What are they going to be using this equipment for? And is it just going to be collecting dust?”

The website for the Saskatchewan Marshals Service noted that the police body has jurisdiction throughout the province and “will support RCMP, First Nations and municipal police services.”

The organization’s mission is characterized as fostering “safe and secure communities in Saskatchewan by providing preventative and proactive enforcement, bringing to justice those that threaten public safety and working with our partners in law enforcement to mitigate the impacts of crime for all that reside in Saskatchewan.”

The marshals hired its first officers in 2025.

Province says specialized unit was always in plan

Responding to a request for more information from 650 CKOM, the province stated that the marshals service was “created with a focus on high-risk individuals, prolific offenders, and individuals wanted on outstanding warrants,” also providing supports to the RCMP, First Nations and municipal police services in Saskatchewan.

According to the province, establishing a specialized response unit as part of the marshals was “identified as a foundational component of the SMS since its inception.” The province said it was incorporated into the existing budget and 70-member staffing complement.

“The SRU will be a unit within the SMS and will be established to provide tactical support to members of the SMS as well as support to existing law enforcement organizations within the province,” the province explained in a statement.

Speaking to the staffing of the force, the province stated that like “all law enforcement agencies across Canada, recruitment remains a competitive environment,” and the marshals are focusing on attracting “qualified candidates.”

Currently, the force has 27 sworn members.

Gordon asserted there are better uses for public dollars when it comes to dealing with crime in Saskatchewan.

When asked to specify, he pointed to recent RCMP reports that outline underlying causes of rising crime rates in rural Saskatchewan and suggested social economic issues like drugs, mental health and homelessness require more attention.

“You talk to police officers that are being asked to deal with a lot of these issues now, and a government that seems more intent on having law enforcement deal with these issues without dealing with the underlying cause of those issues,” Gordon said.

“Yes, we need to recruit more officers. Yes, we need to retain them. The marshals service is poaching these officers from other police forces, so they’re robbing Peter to pay Paul.”

Gordon said the Saskatchewan NDP is committed to ensuring underlying social economic issues that “are driving high crime rates” are addressed and at “the same time, providing adequate support, people and resources for law enforcement in this province to be more effective.”

The request for bids online will close on Aug. 18 at 2 p.m.