Sheriffs play an integral role in the Ministry’s commitment to promote safe and secure communities throughout the province. Sheriffs have a diverse role within public security and cover a wide range of activities which include:
Alberta security and strategic intelligence support team (ASSIST): manages counter-terrorism security information and intelligence and develop threat assessments. This area also provides a conduit for the flow of information between law enforcement, national security agencies and the private sector as it relates to Alberta's critical infrastructure.
Court Security and Prisoner Transport: provides court security and prisoner escorts for Alberta’s 73 court facilities across the province as well as perimeter security services to regional and base court facilities.
Executive protection services: includes personal security to the Premier, members of Cabinet as required, the Lieutenant Governor and members of the Judiciary and quasi-judicial boards.
Facilities security: provides security consultation, audit services for provincial facilities and maintenance of a 24-hour security control centre at Government Centre. Security services are provided to key government buildings and specialized security services are provided to conferences. Sheriffs also assist police and other agencies with public order and special events.
Fugitive Apprehension Sheriff Support Team (FASST): finds and arrests criminals with outstanding warrants who have evaded capture (part of the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team).
Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Unit (SCAN): improves community safety by targeting properties used for illegal activities such as drugs, gangs, and prostitution. It also holds owners accountable for what takes place on their property (part of the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team).
Sheriffs Investigative Support Unit (SISU): provides surveillance support to major police investigations (part of the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team).
Sheriff Operations Communications Centre (SOCC): provides provincial radio communications and dispatch for sheriffs in the Province. Central repository for Sheriff initiated warrant control and maintenance. SOCC is the sheriff branch’s central hub for Canadian police information center (CPIC) data transfer.
Traffic Sheriffs: provides highway enforcement, education and awareness initiatives. Traffic Sheriffs are deployed to reduce high-risk driving behavior. To help improve traffic enforcement on our highways, Alberta Sheriffs and RCMP Traffic Services are integrating traffic resources around the province.
To alert Sheriffs about ongoing traffic enforcement concerns on our highways, please call toll-free 1-866-922-3389 or complete the online traffic service request form.
If you have a compliment, concern or question about the conduct of an Alberta Sheriff, please see the Professional Standards page.
For information on becoming a sheriff, watch this short video created for the Alberta Learning Information service then see the Careers section of this site
