The Saskatoon Police service has begun recruiting a new class of unarmed special constable called Alternative Response Officers. It’s all part of a new initiative that will be a pilot program in the city.

Darren Pringle, Inspector, Special Projects says officers will be sworn in as peace officers and will be tasked with going to police calls which don’t require an armed police officer.

Pringle says the initial plan will be to prove the concept with ARO officers downtown and in Riversdale. He explains one of the fundamental principles will be to try and bring in a different kind of human services professional, drawn more to outreach and community engagement, while recognizing there maybe some small minor enforcement to be done.

Police Chief Troy Cooper says funding will be allocated from existing pilot budgets to staff the pilot. The program will allow for a tiered system of public safety, with armed officers being focused where they are needed most.

At this week’s Board of Police Commissioners meeting the program was discussed with Commissioner
Mairin Loewen passing a motion that the board receive a report outlining detailed metrics for evaluating the program.