The Saskatchewan Government has announced a change in Commercial Vehicle Enforcement. Commercial Vehicle Enforcement officers will now be known as The Saskatchewan Highway Patrol and will take on a new mandate expanding their focus beyond commercial vehicles. 

Police Chief Ladouceur shares that he believes that it will make the area safer. 

"I think it will have an impact on our highways outside the city. The government decided to do that to enhance patrols of our highways and that's part of the Protection and Response Team in regards to addressing rural crime issues as well."

"Those are the commercial enforcement officers that are now going to be doing expanded duties. Rather than just focusing on commercial vehicles, they'll focus primarily on all vehicles that are on our highways."

He added that Saskatchewan has a lot of highways to cover and the more eyes on drivers, the better. 

"Obviously it makes sense, they're out there anyhow and so for things like speeding and things that or impaired driving. It enhances the capacity of the province to deal with driving infractions on our highways."

Conservation officers will also have an expanded role as they will be called upon to respond to calls and check drivers.

"These individuals are out there enforcing various laws to begin with, and what the government realized is that let's enhance their capacities a little bit." 

"It wouldn't make a lot of sense for example, for a commercial enforcement officer to be a kilometre away from a residence that is calling for 911 help and the nearest police officer is 10 kilometres away and the commercial officer just continues on their merry way without offering assistance."

The new responsibilities and name will take effect July 1, 2018. 

READ MORE: Conservation Officers Expanding Mandate