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The Saskatchewan Police Commission has completed its inquiry into the Estevan Police Service (EPS) and found an organization that lacked “a respectful and professional workplace culture.”
The inquiry was launched in June of 2021 due to what the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety called “workplace concerns” at the police department.
In March of 2021, the city issued a statement in which it said concerns had been brought to its attention after the death March 5 of Const. Jay Pierson.
According to his obituary, Pierson had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder in March of 2017 and had to “repeatedly fight to defend his diagnosis in order to receive WCB benefits which were essential to support his family.”
The report issued Thursday included details about Pierson’s battle to receive the WCB benefits and noted his death “became a flashpoint within the EPS and the city of Estevan.”
“One of the requests for an inquiry came to the Commission in April 2021 from a family member of Constable Pierson who shared the impact PTSD had on Constable Pierson’s life and those close to him,” the report said. “This included stressors he experienced and his feeling that he lacked support in relation to his psychological injury.
“The letter advocated a need for police organizations to continually improve their response for police officers with PTSD, and the critical importance of ensuring that well-being supports and services are readily accessible to all police personnel.”
Calls also were made to review the leadership of the police service, notably Chief Paul Ladouceur and Deputy Chief Murray Cowan. The Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers claimed Pierson’s death “had reportedly compromised the organizational well-being” of Estevan’s police service.
“The issues mentioned in all letters described a long-standing, fractured relationship between senior police leaders and (Estevan Police Association) members,” the report said. “The death of Constable Pierson amplified the conflict to the point where the internal matters within the EPS were playing out actively on social media and other forums.”
On April 16, 2021, Ladouceur resigned and Cowan took an extended leave.
Regina lawyer Aaron Fox conducted the inquiry, interviewing 27 people about the Estevan Police Service’s workplace culture, health and well-being supports.
It also examined the role and responsibilities of the Chief of Police and the Estevan Board of Police Commissioners, and what effect these factors have had on the quality of police services in Estevan.
Fox submitted his report in September of 2021.
“The Police Service does not have a respectful and professional workplace culture with appropriate conflict resolution practices,” he wrote. “Having said that, there was a desire expressed by all parties to improve that workplace culture and to establish the trust and respect required for an effective police service.”
After laying out his findings, Fox issued a number of recommendations, including that the police service continue working with a counsellor who works with police officers.
Fox also recommended the service should create policies guaranteeing access to mental health services, a critical incident response procedure, a reintegration program for employees who are absent for extended periods of time, the establishment of a peer-to-peer counselling program, and the creation of avenues for dialogue between employees and the chief or deputy chief.
He also suggested the city should clarify the role of the Board of Police Commissioners, the members of which weren’t sure what their jobs were.
“There were improvements made in the Police Service as a result of the initiatives put in place by former Chief Ladouceur,” Fox concluded. “Now is the time to address the negatives and the work that still needs to be done.”
The commission is to conduct an audit in 2023 to make sure the steps taken by the Estevan Police Service and its board of police commissioners while the inquiry was underway are moved forward.
“It has become increasingly apparent that the Estevan Police Service has worked co-operatively to develop a much more positive and respectful workplace and that internal issues are no longer affecting the quality of policing in the community,” Treena Sikora, the chairperson of the Saskatchewan Police Commission, said in the report.