Wildlife officers answering dangerous police calls deserve more money: union

EDMONTON – The union that represents fish and wildlife officers in Alberta said the province wants them to take on some of the most dangerous parts of police work without increasing their pay.

Mike Dempsey of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) said the United Conservative government is breaking a promise it made to 115 officers that they would receive more money for the added risk of being first responders when police aren’t around.

Last fall, the province announced that fish and wildlife officers, sheriffs and commercial vehicle officers would be made available to assist the RCMP.

The government said the move was made to increase the resources available to fight rural crime.

Fish and wildlife officers have since been supplied with semi-automatic rifles and body armour.

Dempsey said job classifications released last week suggest the job won’t change much and neither will the pay.

He said the government should either admit the officers won’t be responding to police calls or pay them comparably to the RCMP.

The provincial Justice Department was not immediately available for comment.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today