‘Long time coming’: funding announced for new Blood Tribe Police Service detachment

The Blood Tribe Police Service is getting a new detachment to help enhance its capabilities in the community.

The Blood Tribe Police Service (BTPS) will be getting a new, modern $17.3 million detachment.

The province announced on Friday that it was contributing $5.5. million toward the detachment. The federal government will provide $6.8 million, while the Blood Tribe will pitch in $5 million.

“This new facility to house the Blood Tribe Police Service is along time coming,” BTPS Chief Grant Buckskin said.

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Built in 1990, the original station was designed for 12 officers.

Now, 35 years later, the service has 47 officers and 25 staff.

Buckskin says the service has simply outgrowing the current space.

“Currently, we are probably in the last year of this building’s life cycle,” he said. “There was an assessment done, and once we found out about the assessment, we began working and pushing – so we’re here today, and very grateful for the contribution.”

Funding to build a larger detachment comes as the Blood Tribe continues to see a growth in population.

“We are the largest Indian reserve in Canada, and we currently have a population – or at least a membership -- of 14,000 members, so the police service is kept very busy with the community, Blood Tribe Chief Traveller Plaited Hair said. “This building is going to enhance that service.”

The new facility will also allow the service to expand its offerings, and for officers to be better equipped to respond to calls.

“We need to make sure there is room for a potential tactical team, a K9 unit, an ident section, something to do with investigative and major crimes – these are all of the things that we talk about modernized policing,” said Mike Ellis, Alberta’s minister of public safety and emergency services.

With funding from all three levels of government now secure, Buckskin says a groundbreaking ceremony will take place in the early spring, with the detachment being open and operational in 2027.