Alberta Sheriff
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Alberta Sheriff | |
 |
|
| Alberta Sheriff's shoulder flash | |
| Agency Overview | |
|---|---|
| Legal personality | Governmental: Government agency |
| Jurisdictional Structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction* | Province of Alberta, Canada |
| Population | 3,512,368 |
| Constituting instrument | Peace Officer Act |
| General nature |
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| Operational Structure | |
| Headquarters | Edmonton, Alberta |
| Elected officer responsible | Honourable Fred Lindsay, Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security |
| Agency executive | Gerry Gunn (Acting), Chief Sheriff |
| Facilities | |
| Stations | 8 |
| Website | |
| http://www.sheriffs.gov.ab.ca/ | |
| Footnotes | |
| * Divisional agency: Division of the country, over which the agency has usual operational jurisdiction. | |
Alberta Sheriffs are provincial peace officers appointed by the Ministry of Solicitor General and Public Security of Alberta, Canada, under the authority of the Peace Officer Act. Sheriffs are Alberta peace officers and carry sidearms.
There are several divisions currently operating in various areas around the province. The sheriffs can enforce all provincial and federal acts with active enforcement depending on unit. Training is completed at the Solicitor General's staff college, located in Edmonton.
[edit] Services
[edit] Highway Patrol
Starting in 2006, the highway patrol is responsible for traffic enforcement of the Traffic Safety Act on provincial highways outside of the major cities of Calgary and Edmonton. The Highway Patrol works with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to assist in the reduction of accidents by dangerous drivers, providing assistance at "checkstop" drinking and driving roadblocks and by investigating property damage collisions.
There are 105 traffic sheriffs working out of eight offices in various location around the province. Sheriffs in the Alberta Highway Patrol are tasked specifically with traffic enforcement, and they have the power to enforce traffic-related provincial laws, including the Traffic Safety Act, and Liquor and Gaming regulations. The sheriffs, who are armed, can also apprehend individuals who are wanted on outstanding warrants. All traffic sheriffs receive specialized traffic safety training, including collision investigation, and child safety seat inspection.
[edit] Court Protection Services
These sheriffs protect Alberta's 74 court facilities, staff and judges. Screening equipment is operated by sheriffs at the public entrances to detect weapons and other contraband.
[edit] Executive Protections Services
This unit is responsible for the protection of the lieutenant governor, the premier, other members of the provincial cabinet, and members of the judiciary. This unit is most visible at public events where the premier has been confronted by opponents of oil sands developments.
[edit] Prisoner Management and Transportation Services
These sheriffs are responsible for transporting prisoners to and from provincial court houses, correctional facilities and police holding cells. Various types of vehicles are used from cars, large vans to specially designed buses.
[edit] Fugitive Apprehension Services
This service is comprised of two units, North (Edmonton) and South (Calgary), which cover their respective parts of the province. These teams look for and arrest persons with outstanding warrants who have evaded capture. At any time there are 200,000 outstanding arrest warrants in Alberta. Of those, 8,000 are for violent or serious crimes.
[edit] Facilities Security
Provides security services for provincial buildings and operates a 24-hour security control centre. Sheriffs also assist police with public order and special events like the Stanley Cup Finals, which attracted thousands to the streets in Calgary and Edmonton.
[edit] ASSIST: Alberta security and strategic intelligence support team
A highly specialized unit that manages counter-terrorism information and intelligence and develops threat assessments as it relates to Alberta's critical infrastructure.
[edit] SCAN: Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods
Effective October 1, 2008, this unit investigates complaints from the public regarding drugs, gang activity and prostitution at problem residences and buildings under the authority of the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act.
[edit] Rank
The rank structure consists of the following:
- Chief
- Deputy chief
- Superintendent
- Inspector
- Sergeant
- Sheriff III
- Sheriff II
- Sheriff I
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