The provincial government is expanding the role of Alberta Sheriffs to combat rural crime.

A $27.3 million investment was announced on Friday (March 24) with details on how it will be utilized.

Part of it will see new positions for sheriffs, which include courthouse security, prisoner transport, and traffic enforcement on provincial highways.

Two new plainclothes teams will also be created to assist RCMP detachments with investigations.

They'll also be adding 20 additional investigators to the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) unit. The SCAN unit is focused on shutting problem properties or "drug houses" in Albertan communities.

According to the province, since SCAN's inception in 2008, they've investigated over 8,000 complaints.

Sheriffs will also be given full powers of arrest under the Criminal Code, and that training would be conducted in-house at no additional cost.

Public Safety and Emergency Services Minister Mike Ellis addressed criticisms levied at the increase in funding which claim it's tied to the notion of a provincial police force.

"There has been some misleading commentary about this investment in the Alberta sheriffs, namely that it's a way of laying the groundwork for establishing a provincial police service by some other means. Firstly, I'd like to remind people that the provincial government hasn't made any decision about an Alberta police service. We know that it's important for the province to weigh in on all public safety options and that's why we've been very clear that our focus is on empowering municipalities to make their own choice and to make sure that the current policing model is meeting the needs of Albertans."

He adds that having sheriffs perform functions like courthouse security frees up RCMP officers to be out in their communities.