Three former Saskatoon police officers who were fired earlier this month are now appealing that decision.
Before their dismissal, the three were suspended with pay after a house party that happened outside of work hours in September 2024.
Of the three former officers, two were tactical team constables, with nine and 10 years on the force, and the other was a special constable who had been with the Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) for two years.
At the time, Saskatoon Police Chief Cameron McBride told Evan Bray that their suspension wasn’t isolated to only that gathering, but rather it “led to a circumstance where we had to look at what had been occurring over time.”
“The length of time of that investigation should give a really strong indication that there was quite a bit to look at,” McBride said to Bray.
McBride was unable to share details on the situation but said he was relying on the public to trust his decision, saying, “There is just no other decision to make.”
But now, those details will be brought to light in a public hearing and according to the dismissed officers’ lawyer, Steve Seiferling, those facts will prove McBride was wrong.
In a release, Seiferling was quoted as saying, “[McBride] has scapegoated three good officers.”
The release highlighted how the Saskatoon police appear to heavily rely on the officers’ off-duty conduct in this case, even though the organization’s investigation wasn’t finished by the time McBride fired the three. According to the release, the evidence will show that dismissing these officers wasn’t the only option available.
“The chief asks the public to trust him, but the handling of this matter should not inspire trust,” Seiferling said.
Last week’s hearing for former SPS Sgt Robbie Taylor was also mentioned in the release, specifically that information was concealed “until the last minute in Sgt Taylor’s hearing.”
Taylor’s hearing centred around his dismissal for having a friendship with a Hells Angels associate. According to the release, it’s an example of how the SPS hasn’t done a lot to develop trust with the public.
Also included are the three officers’ offers to attend a mediation with a mediator chosen by the SPS. But all those offers were rejected.
Back when McBride was speaking with Evan Bray about the issue, he said, “Remedial efforts just will not resolve this in a way that would be acceptable, both to the public and to the organization.”
The hearings will take place in early 2026.