Announcement coming about Saskatchewan police watchdog: minister

Saskatchewan’s justice minister says change is needed in police oversight in the province because the current model isn’t acceptable.

Don Morgan said officials are sorting out details and an announcement will be coming about the future of an independent police oversight body.

Saskatchewan is one of the only provinces without an independent civilian-led agency to investigate police actions that result in injury or death.

Other police agencies investigate serious incidents in Saskatchewan, with a provincially appointed official reviewing the probe and reporting back to the Ministry of Justice.

“We know that the need for transparency, public accountability is absolutely there,” Morgan said. “We know that we have to change the model and the method that we’re doing now. What we’re doing now is not acceptable.”

Regina Police Chief Evan Bray said the Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police recently discussed the issue and unanimously supports an independent oversight agency.

Bray said it’s important for police to be seen by the public as having nothing to hide.

“I think it’s really good for police organizations to be able to step back and have the public make a decision as to whether or not police are doing the right thing,” he said.

But Bray said a fully functioning oversight body comes with a cost.

Cost isn’t an impediment, Morgan said, and officials are exploring different models and sorting out details.

He said it’s hoped a change will be in place sometime next year.

“We know what the different police groups are saying and we certainly know where the public is at on it, so it’s a matter of trying to get something in place in the relatively near future,” Morgan said.

Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Quebec all have independent police oversight bodies of their own. Earlier this year, Newfoundland and Labrador announced it would establish its own stand-alone team.

Stephanie Taylor, The Canadian Press