Upset with how the search for an attempted murder suspect was handled, leaders on a First Nation near North Battleford, Sask., say they need better service from the RCMP.

The chief and council of the Moosomin First Nation held a news conference Thursday to discuss what happened after an incident Jan. 14 on the reserve, which is about 35 kilometres north of the city.

The RCMP put out a news release saying they were looking for Christopher Ludviksen, also known as Christopher Wells, who was wanted on an attempted murder charge, as well as numerous weapons charges. The alleged victim was a 45-year-old man from the Moosomin First Nation.

He was described as armed and dangerous.

Residents in the community of 600 were afraid, especially after one media outlet erroneously said there had been a murder on the reserve, Moosomin First Nation officials said. Ludviksen later turned himself in at the North Battleford RCMP detachment without incident and is now in custody.

The band says some of the confusion could have been prevented if the RCMP had contacted the chief and council before it sent out the news release.

It also says the recent concern is only the latest aspect of a problem going back years.

The reserve has a 2001 policing agreement with the RCMP, but police are often absent and the response times to calls can be two hours, band councillor Elliot Kahpeaysewat said.

It is something wrongdoers are aware of, he said.

"Here, they know that they can get away with certain things ... 'We got time, let's do something and we'll be gone,'" he said. 'You do that in North Battleford, you'll have police on you in 10 minutes."

The band council wants the RCMP to contact them directly when issuing news releases, so they can ensure the right information gets out to band members, Kahpeaysewat said.

The band also says it wants an increased police presence on the reserve, saying members are struggling with drugs, alcohol and violence.

Responding to the issues raised by the band, RCMP Sgt. Carole Raymond said the force is still working out the practical details of the 2001 policing agreement.

"That whole agreement is the issue. And that's what's still being discussed. It was signed, but never decided on and we continue to talk with them," she said.

The RCMP signed policing agreements with a number of First Nations. However, Raymond said, the RCMP is just one of the partners in those agreements and can only do so much.