FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron holds a picture of Kyla Frenchman and her son Tanner, during a press conference in Saskatoon last March. (CKOM Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Tragic events

Year in Review: a young child killed at Prince Albert home, police criticized for response

Dec 29, 2022 | 8:00 AM

As 2022 draws to a close, paNOW is taking a look back on the most important and impactful stories of the year, as selected by our reporters and editorial staff.

The February death of a 13-month-old baby and the father’s subsequent murder charge was the subject of national media coverage. But in that time, the media also focused on how members of the Prince Albert Police Service responded to the incident.

In the early morning hours of Feb. 10, police were called to a home in the City’s West Hill for a domestic complaint. Following the visit, officers took the child’s mother to police cells.

However, around five hours later that same morning, police were called back to the home. Once police arrived, they found the young child dead and arrested Kaij Brass, who was charged with the second-degree murder of his son.

The case has since been committed for trial at Court of King’s Bench in Prince Albert, although no specific date has been set at this time.

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In addition to the murder charge, Brass is facing a second charge of assault from the same date and that matter has been adjourned to Jan. 4, to be spoken to.

A picture of Tanner Brass. (Facebook)

The response by police to the West Hill home sparked criticism from the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN). Blatant discrimination and systemic racism were the words used by leaders at a press conference in March.

Chief Bobby Cameron demanded change in the justice system and the local police force.

During his passioned speech Cameron said the mother on multiple occasions pleaded with officers at the home, in the police car, and in the prison cell to watch over her baby.

The FSIN and PAGC both said they carried out their own investigation and said the mother was fleeing a domestic violence situation and when officers arrived, they assumed her fear was alcohol-related and arrested her for intoxication, ignoring her pleas for help.

A picture taken on Feb, 10, 2022, outside the family’s home. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

The mother, Kyla Frenchman, was also at the press conference, but was unable to speak when given the opportunity as she was overcome with emotion. In a media release she said her son was a happy baby and always smiling.

“He was adorable and had big squishy cheeks. We used to watch Blue’s Clues together and laugh. No mother should ever have to go through this. No mother should have to feel this pain,” she wrote.

The Prince Albert Police Service did respond by suspending two members with pay from active duty. Chief Jon Bergen, who had contacted the Saskatchewan Public Complaints Commission to review the incident, confirmed the two officers who responded to the call were junior members of the force with about five years of experience combined.

In the weeks that followed, Bergen also instituted a structural change within the PAPS, promoting Sgt. Lisa Simonson to the role of inspector in which she would oversee the patrol comprising of four staff sergeants, eight sergeants, and more than 30 constables.

“As we work through and understand the details of the shortcomings of the Prince Albert Police Service, not just this one call for service, we’re going to be in a better position to build back that trust,” he said.

“We need to look across the entire organization and do better in all areas and make sure we’re paying attention to all details. As we focus on aligning our practices to the policies in place, to align our practices to the legislation that govern us, we’re going to build on that trust that has been called into question.”

Meanwhile, the Prince Albert Board of Police Commissioners also issued a statement, saying they fully support an independent review of the policy and standards in the police service.

“The board is also aware that the Criminal Investigation Division of the Police Service investigated this homicide and charged Tanner’s father with second degree murder. Those charges are now before the courts,” Chairperson Darcy Sander said in a release.

“As a board, we continue to wait for more information from the results of the independent PCC investigation already underway so that we can all understand what happened and how operations at the Prince Albert Police Service can be improved moving forward.”

The investigation by the Saskatchewan Public Complaints Commission remains ongoing.

A deeper review into the police service

In addition to its handling of the tragic events of Feb. 10, the Prince Albert Police Service has also faced criticism over a number of in-custody deaths. Police Chief Jon Bergen has also been the subject of two non-confidence votes by members of the Prince Albert Police Association.

To gain a better understand of the operations and the decisions being made, the Ministry of Corrections, Policing, and Public Safety appointed an external policing expert to provide a review and report.

Speaking with reporters at the legislature in Regina, Minister Christine Tell noted the Prince Albert Police Service has been struggling to meet the level of calls and types of calls for service.

“We, with their invitation, have decided that the best way to do this is to go in with their cooperation and do a review to find out what’s really going on,” she said.

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.

Rod Knecht and Associates has been appointed by the ministry to undertake the independent review.

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 commissioner, ranked as the most senior uniformed police officer and second in charge of the 31,000-person national police service.

Coincidentally when Knecht left the Edmonton Police Service, it was former Prince Albert Police Chief Dale McFee who was hired as his replacement.

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

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell