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By David Opinko/LethbridgeNewsNOW

Alberta proposes new commission to handle complaints against police

Dec 8, 2022 | 4:06 PM

EDMONTON – The Government of Alberta plans to create a commission aimed at ensuring police officers are held accountable.

If passed, the Police Amendment Act (PAA) will establish an independent agency, the Police Review Commission (PRC), to handle complaints against the police.

A media release from the government states that the PRC would replace the current patchwork of organizations with a single entity that is responsible for receiving complaints, carrying out investigations, and conducting disciplinary hearings.

The PAA would also establish formal civilian bodies in all Alberta jurisdictions policed by the RCMP.

The province says these changes will give Albertans confidence that the “police are no longer investigating police.”

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Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis adds that this would be the first major overhaul of the Police Act in Alberta in 34 years.

“Police should have a strong connection to their community, functioning as a police service that is an extension of the people it serves rather than a strong arm of the government,” says Ellis. “This first major update to the Police Act in generations is a blueprint for building police services in Alberta that embody that principle, with reforms that strengthen accountability, give communities more input and promote diversity.”

The PAA proposes to make a series of other changes as well.

It would enable the minister of justice to set provincial policing priorities and local police commissions to create their own list of priorities.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), which investigates the causes of death and serious injuries involving police officers in Alberta, would have its mandate expanded to include incidents involving peace officers employed by provincial organizations such as the Alberta sheriffs and community peace officers working at the municipal level.

The legislation would require police agencies to develop community safety plans and report annually on their progress.

Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police president Mark Neufeld says the proposed changes to the Police Act are long overdue.

“We have advocated for several years that the act needs reform to bring it more in line with the realities of the modern police workplace. This is also an opportunity to enhance independence and transparency in the complaints process, which will enrich trust and confidence across our province,” says Neufeld. “We welcome the opportunity to improve our processes to better reflect our professional and innovative practices in Alberta.”

The proposed amendments follow an extensive consultation process that started back in 2018.

It included meetings with over 200 organizations in law enforcement, health and social services, municipalities, Indigenous organizations, and diverse communities. Nearly 15,000 Albertans completed a survey on the topic.