SASKATOON – Slated to open next month, Saskatoon’s new police headquarters is nearing completion on 25th Street.
All services will be relocated to the new building including evidence labs, an area frequented by custodial staff.
Once the new building opens, the city hopes to hire a third party to clean it.
This raises a red flag for Sharon Schaefer, who’s been working as a civic custodial employee for 25 years.
“The level of trust between the police and custodians is significant. It takes a while to develop,” said Schaefer.
Schaefer is concerned about cross-contamination with the job being contracted out to a third party.
“As evidence comes in, let’s say you have a bloody shirt, it gets put into a drying cabinet and gets dried overnight. The next day we have to come in and clean that locker so there’s no DNA in that locker,” said Schaefer.
With the work contracted out, Schaefer fears training could slacken and due diligence may fade.
A request for proposals has been issued and so far, 16 interested companies have picked up a copy.
The city says the selected company will be required to complete background checks on those hired for the job.
City of Saskatoon Infrastructure Services Manager Mike Gutek says the chosen company will be held to the same standard as current custodial staff.
The city hopes to save on costs by contracting the work out.
Current staff are paid between $14.41 and $17.02 an hour.
Full-time custodial staff at the current police station will remain employed with the city but will be shuffled into different positions.
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