Luseland gets $10K boost in rural police funding

By Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Your West Central Voice

LUSELAND - The Town of Luseland appeared to have mixed feelings about a recent funding boost its police department received. The mayor of Luseland related the information in an interview with Your West Central Voice May 20.

Mayor Kathy Wurz related that updates to rural police funding were recently made at the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) convention.

The mayor noted that rural police departments and the municipalities that operate them have been lobbying for more funding for quite some time, and the SUMA announcement came as welcome news. However, Wurz noted that elation was tempered with a bit of disappointment.

The mayor noted the Government of Saskatchewan announced increased rural police funding of $10,000 per officer; the Town of Luseland has its own police department with one member, Police Chief Ty Coleman.

She stated that when it comes to funding police services, a $10,000 boost isn't much money. Wurz stated that the town is grateful for the increased funding but she still feels that rural police departments like Luseland's deserve more money.

Wurz observed Luseland has had its own police department for perhaps 40 to 50 years and Police Chief Coleman is very well liked and respected in the community for his dedication, the quality of his work and his visibility in the community.

Wurz noted she feels a rural community gets the best police protection with its own department and she especially likes the close relationship Luseland's police chief has with the community.

Mayor Wurz noted Luseland pays for its police department itself, and costs for police service can be substantial: training, equipment and vehicles can have large price tags. Wurz also observed that wear and tear to Luseland's police vehicle occurs when its department helps out other police departments in the region.

As for what the $10,000 could be used for, the mayor responded that the money is fairly small but will probably go into an equipment reserve to be put towards a replacement patrol vehicle in the future.