This week, in recognition of the 11th annual Missing Persons Week, Saskatchewan RCMP are honouring the thousands of people who go missing in Saskatchewan each year. The theme of this year's commemorative week is "stories not statistics" and aims to share the stories behind those people who go missing and the investigations that take place to help bring them home.
In 2023, 2533 individuals were reported missing to detachments in Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction. No two missing persons case are the same and each investigation that takes place is treated as uniquely as the missing person themselves. Though all investigations have their own story, the desired outcome remains the same: bringing missing persons home to their families. Of the 550 missing males, 450 missing females and 1150 youths reported missing in 2023, Kristopher Billette of Buffalo River Dene Nation, Byron Watson of Maple Creek and William "Michael" Neuman of Canora remain missing. To learn more about them and Saskatchewan's long-term missing persons click here.
Once an initial report is made, Saskatchewan RCMP investigators are able bring in a number of highly-trained resources to assist as necessary. This includes: police dog services, remotely piloted aerial Systems, the search and rescue unit and more. Read how each of these tools are used in real life missing persons investigations below. As Saskatchewan's provincial police force, the Saskatchewan RCMP has a number of province-wide investigational tools that can be activated during a missing persons search. As each missing person investigation is different, the resources used in each case is as well.
"There are many different circumstances that can lead to a missing persons report being made" says Cst. Brendan Sanford, Saskatchewan RCMP missing persons coordinator. "Those circumstances decide which of the Saskatchewan RCMP's internal and partner resources are activated. However, the goal always remains the same, to bring Saskatchewan's missing home."
If you think you may know something, say something. Even if you think it may be insignificant, any piece of information may be what leads investigators to finding the answers they need to locate someone. You can report information to your local police or information anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www.saskcrimestoppers.com.
Saskatchewan RCMP, Assistant Commissioner, Rhonda Blackmore will be participating in the news conference to mark Saskatchewan Missing Persons week on Tuesday, April 30th at 10:30 a.m. at the Conexus Art Centre. In addition to making a statement at the news conference, she will also be available to speak to media.
Police Dog Services
In October 2021, Fort Qu'Appelle RCMP received a report of an elderly male with medical concerns who had wandered away from a rural property on Pasqua First Nation. One of the concerns was the current climate as overnight temperatures were hovering around 0 °c at that time of year. Investigators called upon PSD handler Sgt. Dave McClarty and his police service dog Hawk, who travelled to the area from their home base of Regina. Upon arrival, Hawk successfully tracked the missing male's scent and returned him home safely.
Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems
Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems (RPAS) technology has been rapidly integrated into missing persons investigations across police forces. The Saskatchewan RCMP has led the way in Canada having trained Transport Canada certified pilots in 95% of detachments across the province. In addition to each Detachment having their own RPAS unit and trained pilot(s), the Saskatchewan RCMP also has two rapid response mobile units with RPAS technologies ready to deploy for investigations when needed.
On April 19, 2023, Meadow Lake RCMP received a report of a lost hiker in Meadow Lake Provincial Park. The call came in close to midnight that a hiker had set out on the boreal trail earlier that evening and had not returned. The hiker had been in contact with the caller prior to their phone running out of battery and was able to provide a general location. Responding officers launched the Meadow Lake detachment RPAS and were able to locate the hiker using the thermal imaging technology. Once the hiker's location was confirmed, officers were able to use all-terrain vehicles to bring the missing hiker to safety.
Search and Rescue
The Saskatchewan RCMP Search and Rescue (SAR) unit is composed of RCMP officers, civilian members and public service employees located throughout the province. This unit works closely with several other search and rescue groups such as Search and Rescue Saskatchewan Association of Volunteers (SARSAV), Civilian Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA), Saskatchewan Environment Resource Management (SERM), Department of Defence (DND) and Shock/Trauma Air Rescue Service (STARS). Each member of the Saskatchewan RCMP SAR unit is trained in search and rescue techniques, all-terrain and snowmobile operation, first aid/CPR and wilderness survival.
On August 13, 2022 at approximately 6:30 p.m. Creighton RCMP received a report of an adult female who was reported missing from Granite Lake recreation site. Located in the heart of the Canadian shield, the terrain was predominantly rocks, trees and hills. Saskatchewan RCMP Search and Rescue was deployed alongside Conservation Officers, Canadian Rangers, Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) and SARSAV. Two days later on August 15th the Alberta RCMP helicopter spotted the female in a gully in a remote forested area. Due to her location, SPSA had to use chainsaws to clear a path for a rescue basket to be brought in by search and rescue ground crews. Once rescued, the female was transported to hospital by EMS.
Saskatchewan RCMP Historical Case Unit
Many of the missing persons reported to the Saskatchewan RCMP are located quickly, however this is not always the case. When a person remains, missing police draw in the appropriate highly-trained investigative resources available to assist in the investigation. The Saskatchewan RCMP Missing Persons Coordinator is a dedicated police officer who monitors all missing persons investigations in Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction. Long-term missing persons cases that are not suspicious in nature are taken over by the Saskatchewan RCMP Missing Persons Coordinator. If, at any point in the investigation, the case is deemed suspicious, the file is transferred to the Historical Case Unit who liaise with family and loved ones and continue to investigate the case as information becomes available.
On July 10, 2018, 31-year old Ashley Morin was reported missing from North Battleford, Saskatchewan. The investigation determined that the circumstances of her disappearance were suspicious and the case has been transferred to the Historical Case Unit for continued investigation. Read more about the ongoing investigation here.