Some Justice and Public Safety officers in New Brunswick will soon be able to use stun guns and carbine rifles.
Peace officers with Inspections and Enforcement New Brunswick will have access once they complete mandatory training, the department announced Thursday.
The department said it will also be deploying body-worn cameras for use in the field, although it did not offer a timeline.
Public Safety Minister Kris Austin said the work of these officers over the past three years showed they can do more to support police.
“The RCMP is the New Brunswick provincial police force, but this initiative will not only keep officers safe, it also supports increased law enforcement capacity within the province,” Austin said in a news release.
Justice and Public Safety peace officers enforce legislation in the areas of fish, wildlife, environment and natural resources; commercial and off-road vehicles; illegal cannabis and tobacco; as well as criminal code, controlled drugs and substances and firearms offences.
The department said they also work closely with all policing agencies in a support capacity whenever they are needed.
Peace officers are integrated within the RCMP Tactical Traffic Enforcement Unit responsible for highway enforcement.
They also help investigate low- to mid-level drug dealers as part of the Integrated Enforcement Unit, which also includes RCMP, municipal and regional police services.
Justice and Public Safety officers are appointed under the New Brunswick Police Act and are trained to police standards in the use of force, intermediate weapons and firearms, said the department.
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