News
Creation of the Fugitive Apprehension Sheriffs Support Team to bring criminals to justice

Apr. 25, 2023, Alberta – As crime continues to rise across Canada, Alberta’s government is taking action to apprehend criminals in the province before they can reoffend. Budget 2023 will invest $2 million into the FASST (Fugitive Apprehension Sheriffs Support Team) program. The team will help apprehend suspects wanted on outstanding warrants to ensure they are processed through Alberta’s justice system.

Once operational, FASST will assist local police services in apprehending high-priority offenders, eliminating the risk they will reoffend and revictimize Albertans. The team will begin recruiting this year and hire 20 new full-time equivalents, keeping sheriffs where they are needed most.

“Alberta’s sheriffs are so proud of the work we do to keep Alberta families and their homes and communities safe during tumultuous times. These new resources will allow us to provide much-needed specialized supports across the province, as well as more safety and security when the people we serve need it most,” said Farooq Sheikh, chief, Alberta Sheriffs.

As of February, there were 4,200 prolific violent offenders with outstanding warrants in Alberta. Ensuring these criminals are apprehended is an essential part of any justice system focused on protecting public safety. FASST will play an important role in promoting safe, secure communities. The support the team will provide in apprehending fugitives will free up other police resources to focus on priorities such as ongoing criminal investigations and community policing efforts.

Recruiting and training for the team will begin this fall, which is expected to be fully operational by March 2024.