(file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Susan McNeil

Province releases PAPS report

Province makes 45 recommendations to improve policing in Prince Albert

Jul 18, 2023 | 10:23 AM

A report ordered by the province into the operations of Prince Albert’s city police has been made public with 45 recommendations made.

The recommendations cover a wide range of areas, such as expanding the Criminal Investigative Division to include more than homicides, a move that should be done immediately, according to the report.

The report was sparked by a number of in-custody deaths in a relatively short time frame last year.

Other recommendations can be bundled into the concept that PAPS needs to refine and improve a lot of internal processes, including how it handles risk management, how it communicates with the public, the roles played by the police commission, the officer’s union. There should be a written description for every job in the force, the province said.

The report specifically states the mayor should not be part of the police commission, something that is the case right now.

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Rather, city representation should come from councilors and care should be taken to avoid any notion of political interference in the commission.

“The PABPC (Board of Police Commissioners) should have a policy that clearly defines the roles and responsibilities of the Commission and the PAPS, when an election, particularly a municipal election, is being held. The Police Commission and by extension, the Police Service should be non-partisan throughout any election,” recommendation 20 states.

The commission itself needs some modification, with three-year terms that are staggered and clearly laid out roles and responsibilities for commission members.

Because the province provides substantial funding to the police, it also should have one appointee on the commission.

Multiple recommendations are made to improve communication and relations between the police force and the members association. Regular meetings should be held and include an agenda, minutes and a method of distributing the minutes.

Two ‘strong recommendations’ are made. One is to separate the role of human resources and finance into two jobs rather than a combined one and the other is to use an independent hiring process to find candidates for the next chief, after Jonathan Bergen’s departure weeks ago.

The next chief should be hired from outside the force with more focus on administrative, interpersonal and leadership skills along with having some policing experience, the province said.

paNOW has reached out to the city, PAGC, and the police service for comment on the report.

To review the full list of 45 recommendations, click here.

Response from police association

“On behalf of the Prince Albert Police Association we feel that the recommendations that are finally out from the Ministry are a way to move forward in a lengthy process that has not been easy for any of our members at the Police Service. This includes all Sworn and civilian members,” Police Association President Nolan Carter said in a statement.

Carter noted some of the recommendations have already been tackled already by Interim Chief Nogier and others are currently being looked at.

“Although budget will restrict certain recommendations the hope from the Association is that the City of Prince Albert, the Police Board, and the Ministry will step up and continue to acknowledge and support not only the Prince Albert Police Service but in turn the City itself,” Carter added.

Susan.McNeil@pattisonmedia.com