MJ police chief details response following James Smith Cree Nation tragedy

Sunday marked a horrific tragedy that had an impact across the province, after a string of stabbings on the James Smith Cree Nation and in Weldon.  

Police agencies across Saskatchewan and in neighbouring provinces have been dispatched to assist in the search for suspect Myles Sanderson.  

Here within the city, the Moose Jaw Police Service has been on standby since the news came down the wire to them on Sunday.  

“We knew there were two suspects at large,” says MJPS Police Chief Rick Bourassa. “Much like other police services in the province we boosted our resources and had our Tactical Unit on standby just in case we had to encounter them here.” 

The MJPS called in additional staff to increase foot patrols and help if need be, as well as their investigators following up on tips.  

In these types of situations, the MJPS uses what they call a risk matrix to assess the severity of the situation and the appropriate response.  

“You measure probability and impact. The impact should we have someone here in the city that is involved in that would be quite high. The probability from the information that we’ve had is fairly low. That means we still bump up our preparedness, but we recognize the likelihood is low but the possibility always exists.” 

As of Tuesday, Chief Bourassa notes that at no time during the RCMP’s current investigation that the suspects were believed to be in Moose Jaw. In saying that, the MJPS has received a number of tips from residents believing to have seen people who resembled the suspects. 

“We investigated those calls and in none of the cases was it those individuals that were here in the city and we communicate that information back to the RCMP.” 

Chief Bourassa has been in constant communication with the Saskatchewan RCMP on the status of the manhunt for the remaining suspect.  

With the suspect still at large and dangerous, officers within the MJPS will remain vigilant.  

“Until he’s located we don’t take anything for granted and we don’t make any assumptions. If we get information that he was seen here, we will follow up on that.” 

The suspect’s last known location was in the Arcola Avenue area on Sunday in Regina, in a black Nissan Rogue with SK license 119 MPI. The Saskatchewan RCMP confirmed on Tuesday that Sanderson is not in the James Smith Cree Nation. 

Sanderson is wanted for first-degree murder, and is one of two suspects behind multiple fatal stabbings, along with his now-deceased brother Damien.  

Damien's death brought the number of fatalities to 11, as of an update Monday afternoon, with the number of those injured at 19. 

Chief Bourassa encourages residents with any information that may help in locating Myles Sanderson to call your local police service or 9-1-1.