Lawyers make final arguments at former Regina police chief’s firing hearing

The decision on whether former Regina police chief Farooq Sheikh’s firing will be overturned is now in the hands of the Saskatchewan Police Commission (SPC).

The three-member panel representing the commission will release a written decision on whether Sheikh’s dismissal was warranted.

Read more: 

• Regina mayor confident in police board decision as former chief appeals firing
• Regina police chief fired after misconduct investigation into text messages
• VIDEO: Regina police employee charged over improper database use, privacy violation

There is no timeline for when the decision will be released.

Sheikh was fired after it was discovered that the chief sent text messages to a board member during a meeting regarding his contract.

The board member’s name is protected under a publication ban and is referred to as the complainant during the proceedings.

Lawyers finished arguments at the DoubleTree Hotel in Regina on Wednesday.

Defence lawyer Brian Pfefferle said Sheikh made poor decisions but argued the chief didn’t demonstrate misconduct.

Defence lawyer Brian Pfefferle is representing Farooq Sheikh for the appeal hearing. (Gillian Massie/ 980 CJME)

“We’re hoping that this hearing, as embarrassing as it was, did lead to some light being shed on the idea that the chief here was acting in good faith,” he said.

Text messages sent between Sheikh and the board member were entered into evidence for the hearing.

Sheikh acknowledged they could be considered “flirtatious.”

Pfefferle said Sheikh sent messages to the board member to address a mistake regarding the length of the chief’s severance.

“He, again, acknowledges he was impatient; he should have waited,” Pfefferle said. “Not something he would do again, but certainly not reaching the level of misconduct that’s worth termination.”

Pfefferle said it was “ill-advised” when Sheikh asked the complainant to delete their messages.

An associate close to the complainant was arrested in a major drug trafficking investigation, which led to the complainant’s resignation.

Pfefferle argued Sheikh asked the complainant to delete their messages to protect his privacy — not conceal his actions.

Mitchell Holash, the lawyer representing the Regina Board of Police Commissioners, said the “odd relationship” between Sheikh and the board member motivated the actions that led to his dismissal.

Mitchell Holash is representing the Regina Board of Police Commissioners in former Regina Police Chief Farooq Sheikh’s firing. (Gillian Massie/ 980 CJME)

Holash pointed to evidence showing Sheikh messaged the board member about his contract and later asked the complainant to delete their messages in a recorded phone call.

“These are things that were of concern, and that’s in the evidence,” he said.

Holash argued Sheikh’s lack of transparency and secrecy around his actions toward the police board warranted his firing.

The appeal hearing included testimony from three people: Regina Mayor Chad Bachynski, the complaint investigator, and Sheikh.

Sheikh’s severance

Sheikh was fired for cause in October 2025, meaning he was not entitled to his severance.

If the SPC decides Sheikh’s dismissal was without cause, Pfefferle said the former chief likely would not want his job as Regina’s police chief back.

“He wants what’s best for the community, and that probably wouldn’t be what’s best for the community at this stage,” Pfefferle said.

Depending on the SPC’s decision, Pfefferle said a remedy will be determined later regarding the chief’s severance.

“He loved being in Regina. He loved being chief of police. He took the responsibility very seriously,” Pfefferle said. “He would have loved to continue in that role. Regina now has a chief of police.”

Regina Police Service swore in Chief Lorilee Davies in January.