Ministry appoints external expert to review Prince Albert Police Service

In the past year, the Prince Albert Police Service has faced criticism over a number of in-custody deaths, as well as its handling of an incident involving the death of a young child. Police Chief Jon Bergen has also been the subject of two non-confidence votes by members of the Prince Albert Police Association.

Acknowledging the public complaints, Tell explained the government wants the people in Prince Albert to feel as safe as possible and for police to be able to operate at a high level.

“They’re not feeling as safe as they should and every citizen should feel safe in their communities,” Tell explained.

Last year, the local Board of Police Commissioners sponsored and provided a detailed analysis of its own— in the form of a business case and model— setting out the requirements for successful policing and crime response for Prince Albert.

That business model was submitted to the Saskatchewan Ministry, and its proposed strategies were recently voiced again to the Government of Saskatchewan by local businesses and residents. This was organized by city councillor Blake Edwards, who is also a member of the Board of Police Commissioners.

“To promote continuing public confidence in our professional police service, we have in recent months initiated from our board and our police administration very constructive conversations with community, Indigenous, and business stakeholders”, Mayor Greg Dionne, who is also a Police Board Commissioner, said in a statement.

Rod Knecht and Associates has been appointed by the ministry to undertake the independent review. According to a statement from the Board of Police, Commissioners will receive the support and cooperation of the Board and Chief of Police Jonathan Bergen.

“We have worked hard to develop a very highly complimented business model for policing for our city and have more recently initiated some processes to promote internal dialogue within the Service. We hope these initiatives will provide a good head start to the work that Mr. Knecht will undertake,” Dionne said.

Board chair Darcy Sander confirmed Rod Knecht, is understood to have an extensive resume in police administration in multiple provinces with the R.C.M.P. and as a chief of police in the municipal policing sector.

In addition to his seven years as Chief of Police for the Edmonton Police Service, Knecht spent 35 years with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). He retired from the RCMP as the Senior Deputy Commission, ranked as the most senior uniformed police officer and second in charge of the 31,000-person national police service.

“In order to ensure that he will have the necessary authority to fully explore policing issues in Prince Albert, the Ministry has appointed him with full powers of inquiry under The Police Act,” Sander said.

A spokesperson for the Prince Albert Police Association, confirmed for paNOW the inquiry will look at all parts of the service to ensure it is being run appropriately.

“We’re looking forward to the inquiry and hope that all findings would be made public and as more information comes out we hope that it will be transparent and that trust can be built not only within the service but with outside partners and the community as well,” Nolan Carter said.

Carter added the inquiry is something much needed for everyone at the service, noting the City’s challenges when it comes to policing and the increasing call volume.

“Members on a daily basis are dealing with things that the majority of people only see in movies,” he said.

Carter also expressed his hope administration can use this and make meaningful changes that support the members and in turn support our community.

“I believe that everyone at the service is looking forward to this process and the positive changes that are to follow,” he said.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell

by Nigel Maxwell

Ministry appoints external expert to review Prince Albert Police Service

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