Mayor Greg Dionne stands with Board of Commissioners members appointed in 2018. From left: Darcy Sander, Janet Carriere, Mayor Greg Dionne, Coun. Blake Edwards, Chair Cheryl Kimbley. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Politics and policing

Dionne defends Board of Police Commissioners, promises to continue current model

Nov 4, 2020 | 3:16 PM

With five days to the municipal election, incumbent Prince Albert Mayor Greg Dionne is defending the current composition of the Board of Police Commissioners and highlighting its chairing by Sheryl Kimbley, an Indigenous woman, as an important step towards reconciliation.

One of Dionne’s mayoral challengers Darryl Hickie, a former police officer, has said he would assume the position of Chair of the Board of Police Commissioners if elected

The current board, which included more civilian representation than past iterations, was appointed by Dionne and subsequently approved by city council in 2018. Traditionally the board is chaired by the mayor, but Dionne chose to pass control to Kimbley, it’s first female chair.

“This model has been working,” Dionne told paNOW Wednesday. “It represents our community and I believe this is the model we should continue with.”

Dionne pointed to the 231 Calls for Justice produced by the 2019 National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Specifically he cited two sections that call on police services to ensure appropriate representation of Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people on police service boards, and build relationships based on mutual respect and understanding under the leadership of Indigenous women.

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“I find it kind of interesting because council actually did this six months before this report came out,” Dionne said. “So we were pretty good forward thinkers.”

Dionne called any suggestion that the Board has failed in any way “disgusting and low level thinking.”

“I’m very proud of this volunteer board and I apologize to them that they’ve been dragged through the mud,” he continued. “These are outstanding citizens in our community that have stepped forward and are doing a very hard job.”

Hickie responds

Dionne declined to directly name who had criticized the board. However, challenger Darryl Hickie has campaigned on a promise to assume the position of chair if elected.

Asked if his pledge was an indication he believed Sheryl Kimbley was not up to the job, Hickie said a new perspective was needed in the chair’s seat.

“I think at this time, if we look at the membership of the board, there’s very qualified people, but [with] what’s happening in Prince Albert with our severe escalation in violent crime and gang violence, I believe a new chairperson brings another fresh perspective and my background in governance and policing makes me the qualified candidate,” Hickie said.

Hickie said, if elected, he plans to have all current board members reapply for their jobs along with any other interested candidates.

Hickie said he would still work to ensure Indigenous representation on the board. He added the city should make a more focused effort to work towards reconciliation more broadly.

“Reconciliation needs to be addressed at every level and in everything we do in city council,” he said.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom