BCGEU acknowledges the vital work that of members in Sheriff Services, the province’s oldest law enforcement agency. 

In 1857 Governor James Douglas appointed Andrew Muir as the province’s first Peace Officer for the colony of Vancouver Island.  In 1974, the province consolidated County Sheriffs and brought them under the Ministry of the Attorney General. 

Sheriffs are a familiar in the court room, but their roles are not commonly understood.  Our members in Sheriff Services provide a wide range of services. 

Some of the duties include:

• Security services for our provincial, supreme and appeal courts in BC
• Jury administration and selection process for criminal trials, civil trials
• Protection services and jury selection for Coroners court inquiries
• Security services at public commissions or public hearings
• Escort for accused or convicted persons between provincial and federal correctional institutions as well as persons confined under the Mental Health Act, escort witnesses or persons from out of province on arrest warrants. 

Today, the BCGEU proudly recognizes 160 years of Sheriff Services.