There are 45 recommendations resulting from a special inquiry into the operations of the Prince Albert Police Service. In a news release Minister of Corrections and Policing Christine Tell said, “Government is working with the Prince Albert Board of Police Commissioners, the interim Chief, and the Prince Albert Police Association to implement these recommendations and move forward so the people of Prince Albert can be confident in the service’s ability to keep them and their community safe.”
Some of the recommendations include moving from reactive policing to proactive using properly trained personnel with the tools needed to make the shift to intelligence driven policing. The recommendations also refer to significant use of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA) which “has served to undermine trust and transparency between senior management and sworn/civilian personnel.” They suggest the Executive of the PAPS should re-visit the use of NDAs, and only use them in the most exceptional circumstances.”
The special inquiry was ordered by the Minister on November 8, 2022 and was conducted by Rod Knecht & Associates Ltd. Rod Knecht is a former Edmonton police chief.
In February 2022, the Public Complaints Commission was asked to investigate after Prince Albert police arrested a mother – Kyla Frenchman – in an early-morning domestic dispute call. They returned to the same house several hours later to find her 13-month-old son, Tanner Brass, dead. The boy’s father was charged with second-degree murder and Kaij Brass will be tried by judge alone, beginning Feb. 26, 2024.
The Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team is also investigating the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Boden Umpherville on April 1, and a 34-year-old man who died after being shot by a police officer in January. Umpherville died in hospital in April after his family removed him from life support.
The full list of recommendations can be found here.
In response to the independent review recommendations for the Prince Albert Police Service, Interim Chief Patrick Nogier says they are committed to evaluating and responding to all 45, giving them careful consideration. Nogier says the Police Service acknowledges that the successful implementation of recommended change is pivotal in further strengthening their commitment to the community.
Chair of the Prince Albert Board of Police Commissioners, Janet Carrier says in a statement, “The Board has reaffirmed its commitment to make the changes that need to occur, and has already begun, and in some cases completed, meaningful steps toward implementing recommendations.”
