RCMP and town officials in Creighton hope a recent standoff in Sturgeon Landing will trigger a review of how best to police the tiny reserve.
The February arrest of accused murderer Jonas Budd is raising new questions around Creighton RCMP’s obligation to serve Sturgeon Landing some 90 minutes away.
Sgt. Mark Svaren of the Creighton RCMP told town council last week that the standoff and arrest “definitely took a lot of man hours.”
When Ald. Don Aasen asked whether policing Sturgeon Landing was “still stretching things out for the Creighton detachment,” Svaren said “it is.”
“And that’s certainly above my pay grade as far as any decision making,” Svaren continued.
“But I’m hoping that people can really take a step back and have a look at that and try and figure out what’s best for their community, as much as anything.”
Svaren said Mounties out of Manitoba handled much of the Sturgeon Landing incident, in part because the actual pursuit of Budd’s vehicle began in Manitoba.
“And it just kind of made its way over the line, the border, so it ended up in our area, but [Manitoba] had already been called on their end of things,” he said.
On February 18, Budd, 43, allegedly shot a teenage boy in Lac La Ronge, Saskatchewan, and kidnapped the teenage daughter of his own estranged common-law partner.
Budd then allegedly drove into Manitoba. Later that morning, Cranberry Portage RCMP located the kidnapped girl safe and sound.
Budd remained at large until police learned he was holed up inside a home in Sturgeon Landing, 70 km from Cranberry Portage on the Saskatchewan side of the border.
Budd was arrested without further incident the night of February 19. By then he had been inside the home for up to 20 hours.
Concerned
Creighton Mayor Bruce Fidler said town council has long been concerned about Creighton-based officers having to police Sturgeon Landing.
“It’s quite a distance they have to travel to get to Sturgeon Landing,” he said. “Then that’s taking away constables or officers in our community for that length of time.”
Asked whether council has ever spoken to the RCMP or province about the situation, Fidler said they had.
But the Creighton RCMP remain responsible for Sturgeon Landing, he said, because by road it is the Saskatchewan detachment nearest the reserve.
In addressing council last week, Svaren described his detachment’s duty to Sturgeon Landing as the result of complex factors.
“There’s all sorts of legal implications with where court needs to be held and if somebody’s charged within the province of Saskatchewan, they’re going to have to attend a Saskatchewan provincial court and that’s going to be [in Creighton],” Svaren said. “So it’s not as simple as just who provides the service. There’s definitely a few more things to it than that, but I’m hoping that people can find a solution that works for everybody.”
Creighton is located 123 km from Sturgeon Landing, whereas the Cranberry Portage RCMP are 70 km away and The Pas RCMP are 95 km away.
The Reminder first reported on concerns about Creighton RCMP’s duty to Sturgeon Landing last September.
At that time, the Saskatchewan government gave no indication it would discuss a deal with Manitoba to have Sturgeon Landing policed by Mounties who are closer by.
“While we are always open to working with our neighbouring provinces to improve safety in Saskatchewan’s communities, there are currently
no negotiations underway to shift ongoing policing responsibilities for Sturgeon Landing to Manitoba,” said Lesley Dietz, senior communications consultant for Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Justice.
Dietz said RCMP from Manitoba can respond to emergency situations in Sturgeon Landing when required and “cover off until Creighton RCMP are able to respond.”
Since Sturgeon Landing is in Saskatchewan, Dietz said, the RCMP are obligated to provide the reserve with police protection from the nearest Saskatchewan detachment, which is in Creighton.
But it is possible for provinces to negotiate cross-border policing agreements where feasible. Such a deal is already in place for Onion Lake, a reserve that straddles the Saskatchewan-Alberta border.
With fewer than 50 residents, Sturgeon Landing, accessible down a gravel road off Highway 10, is not exactly a hot spot for crime. It averages only two calls to the RCMP per month.
Svaren previously said the allotment of officers at his detachment – six at the moment – takes into account Sturgeon Landing.