Fort St. John receiving new B.C. Sheriffs

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – The BC Sheriff Service’s first graduating class of 2022 is set to be stationed across the province, including Fort St. John, Prince George, Nelson and the Lower Mainland.

After an intensive 14-week  Justice Institute of British Columbia training program, 11 recruits graduated on Friday.

They were the sixth class to graduate since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to B.C.’s Ministry of Attorney General.

“Sheriffs play an incredibly important role in our justice system. We count on them to ensure our courts remain open, safe and accessible,” said David Eby, Attorney General.

“I’d like to thank these graduates for their hard work over the past several months. I am grateful for their dedication and wish them well as they keep British Columbians safe within our court system.”

The ministry says sheriffs are responsible for carrying out orders of the court. They also provide protection and enforcement duties to ensure the safety of all court users, including the judiciary, legal profession, other agencies related to justice, court staff and the public.

Established in 1857, the sheriff service is the longest-standing law enforcement agency in B.C. and is one of the founders of the JIBC.

The next class of sheriffs begin training this month and are expected to graduate in June 2022.