Regina Police Chief Farooq Sheikh fired with cause following investigation

Regina Police Chief Farooq Sheikh has been fired after an investigation into complaints made against him.

Mayor Chad Bachynski, a member of the Regina Board of Police Commissioners, said Sheikh was terminated with cause and will not receive severance pay.

“At the end of the day, our job as the board is to maintain public trust in the police service,” Bachynski said. “The decision today is to make sure that we are committed to maintaining public trust.”

Sheikh, who was hired by the police force in 2023 to take over from outgoing chief Evan Bray, was removed from active service in April, pending an investigation by the Public Complaints Commission. In a statement issued at the time, the police service said Sheikh was sidelined “in order to ensure the integrity and independence of the investigation.”

The commission’s investigation found that Sheikh had acted in a way that was “dishonourable” to the police service after he engaged in “inappropriate private communications” with another police board member.

The investigation found that Sheikh and the board member were texting back and forth about an in-camera discussion about the police chief’s contract, which Sheikh had been excused from.

When the discovery of their communication became a risk, the commission found that Sheikh told the board member to delete their messages.

“The Chief later characterized the nature of the communications to a member of the Board and to the PCC investigator in a manner that seriously offends the core RPS values of integrity, transparency and accountability,” said Bachynski in a report.

He said Sheikh did not take accountability for his actions.

The commission also investigated complaints that Sheikh used his position to influnce the board member, but it did not substantiate those claims.

“I think we’ve demonstrated that we hold our police service to a very high standard, and the decision today indicates that,” Bachynski said. “I believe that we are making the decision to make sure that we maintain the public’s trust.”

He said the police board would review policies moving forward from the investigation.

Read more:

• Regina police chief temporarily removed from active service after complaint
• Leaked letter on Regina police chief complaint ‘attempt to intimidate’: Lawyer
• Regina Police Chief Farooq Sheikh reflects on first year

Lorilee Davies will continue her role as interim police chief while the hiring process beings.

Complainant identified in leaked letter

While Bachynski said the police board would not identify the complainant publicly, a letter leaked this spring indicated that a complaint was filed by Alicia Morrow, a member of the police board.

Morrow’s lawyer Sharon Fox characterized the leak as an attempt to intimidate her client, and said the allegations under investigation are “serious” in nature.

Morrow was a member of the board of police commissioners from August 2024 until earlier this year.

She was listed as a member who was present at the commission’s meeting in January, was not there in February, and was no longer listed for the March meeting.

At the time, Morrow’s lawyer, Sharon Fox said she had been dealing with harassment and emotional harm.

“This breach is not just a violation of privacy — it is emblematic of the broader crisis facing Indigenous women, who are disproportionately subjected to violence, retaliation, and institutional silencing when they come forward,” read the statement from Fox.

“The timing and nature of this leak only reinforce the systemic barriers Indigenous women face when seeking justice and accountability.”

The Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police (SACP) said in a news release  that “matters of this nature must follow the legislated procedures to ensure fairness, transparency, and public accountability.”

The SACP said it has confidence that the Regina Police Service remains in capable hands under the leadership of Acting Chief Lorilee Davies and the senior command team, adding the association would make no further comment.

Before working in Regina, Sheikh worked with the Alberta Sheriff’s Service. He also previously worked with the London Metropolitan Police and West Midlands Police in the United Kingdom, as well as the Calgary and Central Saanich police services.