It’s the house party that sent a shock wave through the ranks of the Saskatoon Police Service.It took place in mid-September 2024 at the home of a member of the police’s elite tactical unit, or Emergency Response Team (ERT).Events at the backyard hot tub and pool party ultimately led to the suspension of five officers — including three from the tactical unit — allegations of assault and allegations of professional misconduct involving a member of an outlaw motorcycle gang.It triggered an internal investigation by the force’s professional standards division and an external review by the province’s Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT). One year later, the investigations are still ongoing.The police service did not reveal the suspensions of the five officers until Chief Cameron McBride was quizzed by reporters in November 2024, six weeks after they were placed on paid leave. He gave no details, other than to say that whatever happened took place when the officers were off duty.One of the five officers was fired at the end of July 2025. Police made no public statement about the officer’s dismissal. “It’s been a long and challenging one, and one that I really, really look forward to having resolved,” McBride told CBC in an interview on Aug. 21 concerning the status of the investigation.Chief Cameron McBride says the investigation is still ongoing. (Dan Zakreski/CBC)The behaviour by officers at the party and the actions of ERT members since then is creating a rift between rank and file officers, management and the tactical team.Officers who contacted CBC say they are speaking out now because the actions of the few do not reflect the values of the majority of police. They are concerned with the alleged assault, the behaviour of tactical team members and whether the police undercover program is compromised. “If they could have swept it under the rug and just dealt with it internally, sure, that would be the way they would have gone,” said one officer who spoke with CBC. “I don’t think they were going to volunteer and do a press release that these guys got suspended unless they were forced into a corner to do it.”CBC is not identifying the officers who came forward because they are not authorized to speak about the investigations.’It just seemed next level’Officers with direct knowledge of the party say it took place in the backyard of an ERT member’s home. The yard features a large deck, hot tub and above-ground pool. There were dozens of off-duty police of various ranks, ranging from special constable to acting sergeants to tactical team leaders, including undercover officers.There was alcohol, loud music and members of the public mingling with the officers.Investigators initially focused on an alleged physical altercation between an ERT member and a junior female officer. It’s not clear what triggered the confrontation, but witnesses say the two grappled twice, once on the deck and once on the lawn, in front of partygoers.The male officer allegedly struck his colleague in the face, wrestled her to the ground and choked her into submission.Three of the suspended officers are from the elite Emergency Response Team. (Dan Zakreski/CBC)The following week, the female officer’s supervisor noticed the bruising on her neck when she came to work. The immediate concern was that she had been the victim of a domestic assault.”She was reluctant to speak, but she finally, minimally explained what happened at the party, that another officer had assaulted her,” an officer said.”Because there was an assault on a police officer, SIRT became involved.”According to its website, “SIRT members will investigate matters where serious injury or death may have occurred while in the custody of police, as a result of the actions of a police officer, or where sexual assault or interpersonal violence involving police are alleged.”It has seven investigators — two former RCMP members and five former Saskatoon Police Service officers.Investigators must apply for the positions, and SIRT’s recruitment standard includes a minimum of 10 years general policing experience and at least another five years of specialized experience in major crimes, general investigations or professional standards.Officers say bringing in the outside SIRT investigators is when the story of the party began spreading widely through the station.”Sometimes when rumours begin, they seem so fantastical that there’s, like, no way that could be true,” said one officer.”It has to be exaggerated. This can’t be. And then as details came out, it was like it seemed like next level.”It was concerning enough that an ERT member stood accused of assaulting a young female officer. SIRT investigators quickly learned there was also a troubling guest at the party.Undercover program ‘compromised’Sources say one of the men at the party was a member of an outlaw motorcycle group. Witnesses say he is a friend of two members of the ERT “and has been friends with them for years.””He’s actually been on social media and following them. These guys [police] are undercover operators. They have friends that are undercover operators.”Witnesses say the man did not hide his gang affiliation. Officers provided CBC with photos of the man, in branded biker regalia, promoting fundraising events organized by the club. “He actually introduced himself at the party to police officers and to civilians as being an outlaw motorcycle gang member.”Officers said the relationship between two of the ERT members and the biker goes back to at least 2018. CBC reviewed dated photos from social media with members of the ERT and the biker at social functions, and on a group holiday.This raised concerns that went beyond the alleged assault.”All of a sudden it became far-reaching, service-wise. This has impact all the way across this building, not just two people that got out of control one night,” said one officer.Officers began scrolling through social media accounts of the biker. “Everybody looked him [the biker] up on social media and he’s following all the ERT guys and the undercover guys … and now the undercover program is compromised.”Officers are concerned the man may have shared or sold confidential information obtained through his friendship with the tactical team members.The sources say four of the five officers were suspended because of the relationship with the biker and the fifth was suspended for the alleged assault.#Freeourboys2024Chief McBride confirmed the suspension of five officers during a brief news conference on Nov. 8, 2024.McBride did not say why the officers had been suspended because “there is an internal investigation going on and the facts are not fully realized.” “There are processes currently underway to assess officer conduct,” he said.”To the hundreds of [Saskatoon Police Service] staff members who have questions and concerns as a result of the recent disciplinary decisions, I want to reaffirm my commitment to representing our service and each member with integrity and in support of their commitment to the residents of Saskatoon. At the core, every staff member deserves fairness and due process.”WATCH | From November 2024: Police chief confirms 6 officers suspended after 2 incidents: Saskatoon police chief confirms 6 officers suspended after 2 separate incidentsSaskatoon Police Service Chief Cameron McBride confirmed Friday at a news conference that Saskatchewan’s police watchdog is investigating an incident that led to the suspension of five officers and a sixth officer is also off work because of an unrelated incident.Witnesses say ERT members showed up at morning parade one day in early December 2024 wearing T-shirts customized with the slogan, #Freeourboys2024.Officers say the impact was immediate and far-reaching, as members at parade included staff from all sections working that day.”There is a current investigation going on. Our victims and witnesses work within that organization. There’s a duty and responsibility to protect them,” said one officer.Officers say female members felt targeted and intimidated after that day, partly because there were no public repercussions “beyond the ERT being told not to wear the shirts.””This was not done in the heat of the moment. This took time to think about it, to plan it, to design it, to order it, to pay for it, to pick it up, to put them on to walk on parade together. They all waited, and walked in together.”Officers say that ERT members wore the shirts as a statement to display an opinion of unfair suspension of three teammates.The Emergency Response Team truck is used at high-risk scenes. (Dan Zakreski/CBC)In an interview on Aug. 21 of this year, Chief McBride acknowledged that the T-shirts “deeply offended” some members. But he added that everyone has a perspective that must be taken into account.”It all depends on the interpretation and the motivation of those who developed that. What message were they providing? Certainly we see circumstances all the time where the intended message is not the message that’s received,” he said.”I believe in my heart that was the case here, that it was individuals saying one thing but other people receiving it differently and being very offended by it.”McBride said he ordered that the T-shirts not be worn.SIRT’s objectivity questionedOfficers who contacted CBC also expressed concerns over SIRT’s ability to objectively evaluate the assault allegation, because of the investigators’ close relationships with the current police management and the ERT team.Five of the seven investigators working at SIRT are former senior Saskatoon Police Service officers. “I think there’s a lot of concern with the investigations that are being completed, and the people running it. I think there’s too much influence from SPS,” said one officer.”I don’t know that the right people are investigating it.”Five of the seven SIRT investigators are former Saskatoon police. (Dan Zakreski/CBC)SIRT will not say where exactly its officers served in the force, because it’s not allowed under provincial privacy laws. One year later, SIRT is still working on the Saskatoon file.In an August email, communications director Noel Busse at the Ministry of Justice confirmed that “in September 2024, SIRT commenced an investigation into one aspect of an incident that occurred involving off-duty members of the Saskatoon Police Service.””At the time, the incident was also the subject of related internal police investigations. SIRT’s investigation involving this incident remains ongoing, and accordingly, SIRT is unable to provide any additional information,” Busse wrote.In the Aug. 21 interview, McBride said the length of time reflects how it’s been a large investigation with many facets.”Certain elements from within that circumstance have been concluded. Certain elements are still outstanding,” he said.”I’m really wanting to maintain the integrity of the investigation as a whole and not provide very much, other than the end is near.”
Saskatoon officers break silence on house party that led to 5 suspensions
