EDMONTON, Alta. – Inspectors employed by Alberta infrastructure recently completed the same self-defence training course given to police officers. In addition, they have also been issued with bullet-proof vests, pepper spray, handcuffs and collapsible batons.

According to Steve Callahan, executive director, Inspection Services, the new equipment and training is intended to help protect inspectors who often work alone in isolated areas at odd hours. But Callahan admits that he can point to no recent hostile incident or department statistics that suggest such measures are necessary.

And now that Alberta inspectors are armed and dangerous, Saskatchewan traffic safety officers are demanding the same type of equipment and training. In fact, 28 of the 42 safety officers in Saskatchewan refused to work highway patrol earlier this year because of safety concerns. They have since been issued bullet-proof vests and have had some standard police equipment added to their vehicles.n