Civilian-led team begins police investigations in Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan’s new Serious Incident Response Team has begun its work investigating police in the province, and is already looking into a death in police custody.

The team’s mandate is to investigate injuries and deaths in police custody, as well as sexual assault allegations involving police. The legislation establishing the team took effect Sunday, the provincial government said, and the group is now operational.

The team works under a civilian executive director, the province noted, and may also conduct other investigations if the director feels they are in the public interest.

The team’s mandate extends to municipal police officers and RCMP operating in the province, as well as certain groups of special constables such as conservation and highway patrol officers.

Summaries of the team’s investigations will be posted online “to ensure transparency in the investigation process and provide the public with informative results,” the government said.

The team is already assisting with the investigation into a death that occurred in the Moose Jaw Police Service’s detention centre on Saturday.

Bronwyn Eyre, Saskatchewan’s justice minister, said the team will improve police oversight in the province.

“The Act coming into force completes the transition to a civilian-led, independent police oversight body and brings Saskatchewan’s police oversight regime into line with most other Canadian jurisdictions,” Eyre said in statement.

The legislation establishing the team also requires the appointment of a First Nations or Metis community liaison officer in cases involving a person of First Nations or Metis ancestry, the government said.