New Brunswick Police: Armed And Ready?

In Canada, police do routinely carry firearms and are exempt from the country's gun laws in terms of the weapons they use on the job. In New Brunswick, Canada, some sheriffs and safety enforcement officers now have to carry guns following a risk assessment by the Department of Justice and Public Safety. This move has been deemed controversial, with criminology professors arguing that New Brunswick has lower-than-average crime rates and questioning the need for officers to be armed. However, others, including Justice and Public Safety Minister Denis Landry, have justified the decision by citing the changing nature of crime and the increased activity of groups like the Hells Angels.

New Brunswick sheriffs and safety enforcement officers carry guns

In New Brunswick, Canada, some sheriffs and safety enforcement officers are required to carry firearms. This requirement came into effect in 2017 after the Department of Justice and Public Safety conducted a risk assessment. About 30 officers in the motor vehicle enforcement branch were the first to carry guns, after completing training and certification in the spring of 2017.

The decision to arm these officers was based on the changing nature of crime in the province, including the increased activity of organised criminal groups such as the Hells Angels. Justice and Public Safety Minister Denis Landry emphasised that "people in the criminal world can have firearms," and that the risk evaluation determined that arming officers was necessary for their safety and the public's safety.

However, the policy has been controversial. Criminology professors have questioned the need for arming officers, given that New Brunswick has lower than average crime rates, and there has been no apparent increase in risk. Additionally, only about 50% of sheriffs feel safer carrying a gun, while the other half believes they can effectively perform their duties without one.

The requirement to carry a firearm only applies to officers assigned to roadside checks, and it is not mandatory for current officers to carry a gun. However, new hires will be required to undergo mandatory firearms training. The government estimates the cost of arming safety officers at about $300,000 over three years.

The Department of Justice and Public Safety conducted a risk assessment

The risk assessment found that officers assigned to roadside checks faced greater dangers and, therefore, about 30 officers in the motor vehicle enforcement branch began carrying firearms in 2017. Over a three-year period, it was estimated that about 150 officers would be authorised to carry guns. The Department emphasised that no officer would lose their job for refusing to carry a firearm.

The decision to arm sheriffs and safety enforcement officers was met with mixed reactions. Criminology professors Jean Sauvageau and Michael Boudreau questioned the necessity of the policy, given New Brunswick's below-average crime rates and the lack of any apparent heightened risk. Sauvageau also highlighted the complexity of assuming that arming officers automatically increases safety for them and the public.

On the other hand, Richard Bockus, a trucker who works across the eastern US and Canada, agreed with the policy, citing the increasing cruelty in the world and the need for good people to defend themselves. The New Brunswick Union, representing sheriff's officers, was divided on the issue, with some members feeling safer with a gun and others not seeing the need for one.

The Department of Justice and Public Safety defended its decision, stating that the risk assessment demonstrated the necessity of firearms for the officers' safety and the safety of those they serve. The estimated cost of arming safety officers over three years was $300,000.

About 30 officers in the motor vehicle enforcement branch carry guns

In 2017, about 30 officers in the motor vehicle enforcement branch in New Brunswick, Canada, began carrying guns. This development came after the Department of Justice and Public Safety conducted a risk assessment and concluded that these officers should carry firearms for their safety and the safety of the public. The requirement to carry a gun only applies to officers assigned to roadside checks, and no officer will lose their job for refusing to carry one.

The decision to arm these officers was influenced by the changing nature of crime in the province, including increased activity by the Hells Angels. Justice and Public Safety Minister Denis Landry emphasised that people in the criminal world can have access to firearms, and that the level of armaments among organised criminal groups has changed. This assessment was supported by criminology professor Michael Boudreau, who stated that the introduction of firearms can escalate situations, as evidenced by an incident in a Quebec courthouse where a teenager was shot in the head after an altercation.

However, the policy of arming officers has been met with some scepticism and concern. Criminology Professor Jean Sauvageau from St. Thomas University in Fredericton questioned the necessity of the policy, given that New Brunswick has lower than average crime rates, including violent crime. Sauvageau suggested that the decision to arm officers is not a straightforward solution to ensuring the safety of both the officers and the public. This sentiment was echoed by St. Thomas University criminology professor Michael Boudreau, who expressed concern about the potential consequences of introducing firearms without proper training.

The New Brunswick Union, representing sheriff's officers, reported a mixed response from its members, with some feeling safer carrying a gun while others did not see the need for one. The province has stated that the decision to arm officers was based on a risk assessment that demonstrated the necessity of sidearms for the safety of officers and the public. The cost of implementing this policy is estimated at $300,000 over three years.

New hires must go through firearms training

In New Brunswick, Canada, some sheriffs and safety enforcement officers are required to carry firearms. This mandate was implemented after the Department of Justice and Public Safety conducted a risk assessment, which highlighted the changing nature of crime in the province, including the presence of firearms. While the decision to carry a firearm is currently optional for existing officers, new hires must go through firearms training.

New hires will be required to complete a two-week intensive training program at the Atlantic Police Academy in P.E.I. and an additional five days of training in Moncton. The training will cover the use of a semi-automatic 40-calibre Sig Sauer pistol, which is a standard firearm for law enforcement in Canada. The new hires will learn safe handling and carry procedures, firing techniques, and the safe storage, transportation, and display of their service weapons.

The firearms training will also include instruction on the different types of firearms, their major parts, and their evolution. New hires will be taught the basic safety practices and procedures for operating firearms, including handguns. They will also learn about the responsibilities of a firearm owner or user, which is crucial for understanding the legal implications of carrying and using a firearm as a law enforcement officer.

Additionally, the training will cover the specific procedures and techniques for firing handguns, as well as their care and maintenance. The new hires will be instructed on the safe storage, display, transportation, and handling of restricted firearms. This comprehensive training program ensures that new hires are well-equipped to handle their firearms responsibly and effectively during their law enforcement duties.

The New Brunswick Union is split on whether officers feel safer carrying a gun

The New Brunswick Union, which represents sheriff's officers, has stated that its members are divided on the issue of carrying firearms. About half of the members feel safer carrying a gun, while the other half do not see a need for one. This split opinion comes amidst a controversial decision by the province to arm its sheriffs and security officers.

The decision to arm law enforcement officers in New Brunswick was made after the Department of Justice and Public Safety conducted a risk assessment. The assessment concluded that officers assigned to roadside checks and those providing security at courthouses should carry firearms for their safety and the public's safety. However, the move has been questioned by criminology professors and the union itself, who argue that there has been no indication of any heightened risk or serious incidents that would warrant such a measure.

According to the Department of Justice and Public Safety, about 30 officers in the motor vehicle enforcement branch have already been carrying firearms since completing their training and certification in 2017. Over the next three years, it is expected that about 150 officers will be armed. While the requirement to carry a firearm applies to certain positions, it has been clarified that no one will lose their job for refusing to carry a gun.

The New Brunswick Union's president, Susie Proulx-Daigle, expressed her uncertainty about the decision, stating that the province only provided the results of the risk assessment without explaining the reasons behind it. She believes that the fact that only half of the sheriffs felt the need for firearms indicates that the plan may not have been thoroughly considered. Criminology professors, including Michael Boudreau from St. Thomas University, have also voiced their concerns, arguing that arming officers may not automatically result in increased safety and could potentially lead to tragic outcomes, as seen in similar incidents in other provinces.

In response to the concerns raised, the Department of Justice and Public Safety defended its decision, stating that the risk assessment demonstrated the necessity of sidearms for the safety of both the officers and the public they serve. While the government has currently left it optional for existing officers to carry firearms, it will be mandatory for new hires to undergo intensive training to use a semi-automatic pistol.

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