By TERRY PUGH
The City of Warman is hoping to add another officer to the RCMP detachment serving the municipality.
Warman City Council voted at its July 20 meeting to initiate the process under the Municipal Police Service Agreement to request an increase from nine to ten Regular RCMP Members. Council is also requesting cost estimates for the increase from the RCMP and Public Safety Canada.
Municipalities must first engage with their local RCMP detachment and RCMP District leadership before submitting a formal request for an additional RCMP Member to Public Safety Canada. It takes about 18 months for the request to go through the process and, if approved, at least an additional year before the position is filled.
While the City of Warman is currently officially allocated nine members, the actual number of police officers in the RCMP detachment which serves the city is between 27 and 30.
The Warman-Martensville RCMP detachment was originally four separate detachments (Warman, Martensville, Delisle and Radisson), but was amalgamated about 15 years ago in order to provide around-the-clock policing. A minimum of 24 officers is required to schedule shifts for 24-hour coverage.
The amalgamation of the detachments also ensures officers are able to respond to calls anywhere in the overall coverage area.
The Warman-Martensville detachment is the third-largest in the province, serving a total population of about 35,000 and a geographic coverage area of about 5,000 square kilometers. It includes two cities (Warman and Martensville), four towns (Langham, Osler, Radisson and Asquith), three villages (Vanscoy, Borden and Maymont), five rural municipalities (Corman Park, Great Bend, Vanscoy, Mayfield and Montrose), and numerous hamlets. (The detachment also works in partnership with the Corman Park Police, Dalmeny Police Service, Vanscoy RM Police Service, Saskatchewan Marshals Service and Saskatoon Police Service.).
A report from city administration to the Warman City Council meeting on July 20 noted that the city has experienced significant growth over the past 15 years, with the population increasing from approximately 7,100 residents in 2011 to an estimated 14,500 residents (based on provincial eHealth statistics) in 2026. During this same period, RCMP member strength increased from six members in 2012 to nine members in 2017 and has remained unchanged ever since.
During discussion at the July 20 meeting, Warman City Councillor Marshall Seed said he supports initiating the process of requesting an additional RCMP member.
“Realistically, I think the number of members for Warman should be closer to 11 or 12,” said Seed. “However, I do have a concern that we’re paying more than our fair share. Warman is being invoiced for members who are obliged to respond to calls outside our city. I think it would be more equitable if the provincial share was higher.”
City Councillor Shaun Cripps said he also supports the request, adding it would be good if the city could insert some conditions tying invoicing to call responses within the municipality.
City Councillor Richard Beck said he believes an additional RCMP member is needed based on the growth of population.
Warman Mayor Gary Philipchuk agreed the cost borne by the cities should be less, but noted submitting the request will start the process of coming to a more equitable arrangement.
MARTENSVILLE STUDIES OPTIONS
Warman is not the only city in the detachment discussing the need for additional police personnel.
The City of Martensville currently has an allocation of eight RCMP members. It was last increased by one member about a decade ago. In the meantime, the city’s population has grown from about 9,600 in 2016 to about 12,000 in 2025.
Martensville City Manager Tanya Garost said the municipality expects it will likely be looking at asking for an additional member in the coming years as the population increases.
In the meantime, she noted, Martensville City Council is currently in the process of establishing a Protective Services Committee (PSC) which will explore options for enhancing public safety in the municipality. The PSC will include three city councillors and three members of the public.
“The committee will be considering RCMP staffing levels and whether they need to be adjusted,” said Garost. “The committee will also be considering other options related to community policing, and establish a plan going forward into the next five years.”
PRICE TAG TO RISE
Regardless of whether the request for an additional RCMP member for Warman is approved by Public Safety Canada and the RCMP, the cost of policing will likely be increasing for the City of Warman in the near future.
The reason is that once a municipality exceeds a population of 15,000, the annual municipal cost per Regular RCMP Member increases.
The city administration report to the Warman City Council meeting on July 20 notes that the 2026 federal census may confirm that Warman’s population is over 15,000. If that is the case, RCMP policing costs are expected to increase beginning in the 2028 budget year in accordance with the Municipal Police Service Agreement cost-sharing formula.
“Under the current funding model, the estimated annual municipal cost per Regular Member would increase from approximately $187,600 to approximately $240,525,” stated the administration report. “These are estimates provided by the RCMP for budgeting purposes. The increase would occur regardless of whether Council proceeds with a request to increase member strength. Should Council ultimately receive approval of an additional Regular Member, the cost of that position would be based on the applicable per-member rate in effect at the time the member is assigned.”