Police define role of new community safety officers

"It frees out sworn officers up to do the very risky business of police work in our community," Chief Paul Pedersen told reporters following Wednesday's police services board meeting.

Pedersen suggested creating the positions during this year's police budget process. Instead of filling six vacancies for full constables, the eight are being hired with the goal of freeing up more police time to deal with fighting crime. They will respond to calls from the public in cases where there's no chance they will have to make an arrest, search or seize people or property, or use force.

Pedersen has talked frequently in the past about the challenges faced by modern police forces. While crime rates are declining, police budgets are increasing because so much time is being consumed with non-urgent work.

In missing persons cases, for example, Pedersen said the large majority involve teens who run away from home. With only one officer dedicated to missing persons, it's difficult to find resources to handle the calls.

“At any given time, we can have multiple reports of missing persons in our community," he said.

Even with a case of a teenager who runs away from home, "there's still a lot of legwork involved in that -- talking to their friends, searching Facebook -- a whole bunch of work that needs to be done, but can be enhanced through community safety personnel.

"That frees up the investigator to do those complex investigations that we're taught at police college and other investigative courses."

Not only do the safety officers earn less than a full officer, they don't have to receive the same equipment (guns, Tasers, etc.) or the same training.

"They don't have to have police cars, they don't have to have all the equipment around their belt," Pedersen said. "But the big efficiencies come when we're able to find extra time for the officers."

With the job descriptions now complete, postings will go out in the next few months. They will be posted internally first, before going public. Anyone will relevant skills – ranging from students fresh out of school to retired persons – will be encouraged to apply, Pedersen said.