Americans trading on Canadian soil, the Red River Settlement in an uproar, settlers taking the law in their own hands–what other reasons did the government need to create a police force? The deciding factor happened in the Cypress Hills near the borders of Saskatchewan, Alberta and Montana.
In 1873, some drunken American wolf hunters
attacked a camp of Assiniboine men, women and children. The Assiniboine had no warning and couldn't protect themselves. The reason for the attack? The wolfers thought that one of their horses had been stolen. It had only wandered away.
This attack horrified the Canadian people. A mounted police force would be formed.
