Albertas police watchdog integrated into new complaints commission

Alberta has unveiled its new Police Review Commission (PRC) which it says will give residents a single, “independent process to file policing complaints and ensure accountability.” The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), the province’s police watchdog, will now operate under the PRC. “The Police Review Commission represents a new era in how Alberta addresses policing complaints. These changes are part of a broader paradigm shift where police are no longer seen as an arm of the state, but rather an extension and a reflection of the community they serve,” says Mike Ellis, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services in a news release. “As an independent agency, it is committed to fairness, accountability and public trust, ensuring every complaint is investigated impartially and resolved openly.” Alberta says the new commission “replaces the current patchwork of police investigating police with one independent body responsible for receiving complaints, conducting investigations and overseeing disciplinary hearings. By centralizing these functions within a single, independent agency, Alberta is ensuring complaints are handled fairly and consistently.” The PRC will be led by the former head of ASIRT, Michael Ewenson on an interim basis. “A timely and transparent complaint resolution process is essential for both the public and police. That is why the PRC must complete investigations within 180 days, and if more time is needed, the chief executive officer must publicly report on delays and provide justification,” Ewenson says in the release. “The commission will be arm’s length from government and police services, meaning people can have greater confidence that their complaints will be investigated and resolved impartially.” The PRC can also initiate systemic reviews related to police conduct or emerging trends without the need for a public complaint, and these reviews must be made public. Together, these measures create a clear, accountable process that strengthens transparency, supports continuous improvement and enhances trust in how police oversight is carried out across Alberta, according to the release. The commission’s design was “informed by engagement with Indigenous communities, law enforcement partners, municipal officials and community organizations, ensuring its structure and training reflect Alberta’s diversity and values.” “I am confident that the PRC will be an inclusive and diverse representation of the communities, so we may better understand the most appropriate and effective way to respond to concerns regarding police services. I look forward to the positive outcomes for the community,” says Teddy Manywounds, justice and public safety director for G4 Stoney Nakoda Tsuut’ina First Nations. The government says the PRC will handle complaints which will fall into three categories. Level 1 are death, serious injury and serious or sensitive allegations involving all police services in Alberta, as well as peace officer agencies. Level 2 are allegations of criminal and other statutory offences involving all police services in Alberta. And Level 3 are complaints about non-criminal misconduct involving officers employed by municipal and First Nations police services. Complaints that fall outside the three categories will be referred to the appropriate bodies or agencies for review, according to the release. Continue Reading