Oversight
The SMS is held to the highest standard through a combination of civilian and government oversight bodies.
The SMS is held to the highest standard through a combination of civilian and government oversight bodies.
The SMS is an independent police service that reports to the Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety. The Minister designates a Chief Marshal who is responsible for:
The Minister is required to both provide general direction to the SMS and develop long-term strategic plans for the SMS (section 36.4(1)). However, the Minister is not permitted to interfere with the investigations, operations, discipline or the day-to-day administration of the SMS (section 36.4(2)b)).
The Government of Saskatchewan appoints the SMS Advisory Council which advises the Minister on SMS-related general direction and strategic plans. The council is made up of members of the public who are representative of Saskatchewan.
The Public Complaints Commission (PCC) receives, investigates and reviews complaints against:
The PCC is a five-person, non-police body appointed by the Government of Saskatchewan. It is responsible for ensuring that both the public and police receive a fair and thorough investigation of a complaint against the municipal police or an investigation of a possible criminal offence by a municipal police officer.
The Saskatchewan Police Commission works with police services and boards of police commissioners to promote effective policing throughout the province. The Commission also promotes crime prevention and the improvement of police relationships with communities.
The Commission makes regulations to enhance police services, generally through training and standardization. It sets provincial standards for clothing, ranks, equipment, reporting, recruiting, training and discipline for all municipal police services and the SMS. The Commission also provides centralized education and training for municipal police services and the SMS through the Saskatchewan Police College at the University of Regina.
The Commission is empowered to conduct audits and reviews, and to provide information to boards of police commissioners. The Commission is the final appeal body in disciplinary and dismissal matters.
The Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) is an independent, civilian-led unit responsible for investigating serious incidents involving police officers in Saskatchewan. Investigations will occur when a person suffers serious injury or death, either in police custody or because of a police officer's actions, or in relation to an allegation of sexual assault or interpersonal violence.
