SASKATOON — The Saskatchewan NDP has questioned the government’s decision to purchase highly specialized equipment for a proposed Saskatchewan Marshals Service (SMS) response unit that does not yet exist and whose mandate and required number of officers have not been clearly defined.
On Friday, the SMS announced it is developing a Specialized Response Unit, which will be equipped with different tactical equipment, including sniper rifles, multi-shot launchers, ballistic shields, night-vision equipment, remotely operated hydraulic breaching tools and a Long-Range Acoustic Device, or LRAD.
The SMS said the need for an SRU was identified when the Marshals Service was created and that the unit will be incorporated into its target complement of 70 active-duty officers. With tactical police equipment, the SRU will be able to respond to high-risk situations that may arise within its mandate.
Hugh Gordon, the NDP's associate shadow minister for community safety, said during a media event on Monday, Aug. 17, outside the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency’s Saskatoon office that the purchases raise questions about how the equipment will eventually be used since the SRU, which will be within the Marshals Service, has not yet been formed or deployed.
“The problem with that is its mandate. No one knows what their mandate is,” said Gordon, a retired RCMP officer and the MLA for Saskatoon Silverspring. He added that police officers and agencies across Saskatchewan are still questioning what role the marshals are supposed to play.
Gordon said the Marshals’ leadership identified three areas during the 2026-27 budget estimates: high-risk crime investigations, warrant enforcement and assisting other agencies in an undefined capacity. He said the equipment being purchased appears inconsistent with that description.
“A lot of this appears to be the kind of equipment they would use if they’re going to be the first people through the door, but they’ve already said they don’t want to do that. So, the million-dollar question is, what is their mandate? What are they going to be using this equipment for?” Gordon said.
He added that the questions come as the Marshals Service, which currently has about 27 officers, continues to struggle to recruit members, with only a small number of new recruits and many members coming from other police agencies.
“Years after it was announced, this government has been unable to recruit a full complement of Marshals. Now they plan to spend more on equipment for a specialized team they might never be able to staff. This is a spend-first, plan-later strategy that won’t make our communities safer,” he said.
Gordon also questioned the additional costs associated with specialized equipment,, including training and annual certification requirements. While some equipment may be justified, he said items such as ballistic helmets, shields and a sound cannon warrant greater scrutiny when the unit’s role remains undefined.
“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 and the sound cannon, appears to be the kind of equipment they would use if they’re going to be the first people through the door,” Gordon said.
Gordon said money earmarked for an undefined specialized unit could instead be directed toward existing police services and measures addressing the social and economic factors contributing to crime, including addictions, mental health, homelessness, domestic violence and gang activity.
“The money spent on expensive equipment for a team that does not exist and might never be used is money that could be used to support second-stage shelters, to expand drug and alcohol recovery treatment, to tackle gangs, support victims, and actually make Saskatchewan a safer place,” he said.
Gordon said the government needs to clearly explain the Marshals’ mandate and how much public money it is allocating to equip the proposed unit. “What we’re trying to say is there are better uses for public dollars when it comes to fighting crime in this province,” he said.
The SMS, however, said its marshals have been conducting active patrols, monitoring offenders, apprehending people with outstanding warrants and responding to calls for assistance since beginning operations in June 2025, while working alongside its policing partners.
The SMS added that its current 27 sworn members are dedicated to strengthening safety and protecting residents across Saskatchewan. The SMS chief is based in Regina. The deputy chief and 18 members are in Prince Albert, while two are in Saskatoon and five officers are in North Battleford.
“Recruitment is active and ongoing. Job listings are currently posted on the SMS website for a Recruitment Officer and Experienced Police Officers. A job posting for New Recruits closed on Monday, Aug. 10, and applications are now under review for selection,” the SMS said in a statement.
