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The Regina Police Services’ (RPS) Board of Police Commissioners heard a motion to prevent police from investigating complaints against the police Thursday.
A motion to implement a civilian oversight committee was presented by board member Jada Yee due to lack of confidence expressed in the RPS by some Regina residents – particularly, Black, Indigenous and racialized people.
The motion called for reform to the Saskatchewan Public Complaints Commission (PCC), a five-person, non-police body appointed by the government. It recommended the implementation of a civilian oversight committee to deal with complaints against the RPS and its officers.
The letter, presented by Yee asks the Board to request that the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, as well as the provincial government, commit to reforming the PCC by transition to civilian-only oversight, expanding the governing body’s membership and providing more resources and tools to the PCC.
It also asks for expedited creation of a civilian-only Independent Serious Incident Response Team. The team would deal with “incidents involving injury or death sustained by members of the public who are placed in police custody or subject to police investigation.”
Further, the board of police commissioners is to provide a report to Regina City Council and members of the public on the RPS’ Use of Force guidelines.
Michelle Stewart, a professor at the University of Regina, also spoke about the motion to the Board.
According to the Government of Saskatchewan website, the PCC is responsible for “ensuring that both the public and police receive a fair and thorough investigation of complaints.” The body oversees complaints against municipal police and investigates possible criminal offences by city police officers.
“I think this is really healthy,” RPS Chief Evan Bray said. “I think it’s healthy for our community, it’s healthy for our policing.”
Bray said the motion called for positive changes that would improve public trust in the police.
“If the community has trust in our police service, but also confidence in an oversight body to ensure things are transparent and done in a proper way, I think that’s nothing but positive,” Bray said.
Regina Mayor Michael Fougere, like Bray, said the change is long overdue.
“We’re one of the last jurisdictions in Canada that does not have a civilian oversight,” he said.
