The Saskatchewan Police Commission has launched an inquiry to investigate “workplace concerns” at the police service in Estevan.
The inquiry will look at “workplace culture, health and well-being supports for police officers, the role and responsibilities of the Chief of Police and the Estevan Board of Police Commissioners, and what effect these factors may have on the quality of police services in Estevan,” the province wrote in a release Thursday.
Aaron Fox, a lawyer from Regina, will conduct the inquiry.
Roy Ludwig, Estevan mayor and chair of the city’s board of police commissioners, says the board requested an inquiry following a number of accusations against the former police chief and board this past spring.
“We feel everything’s going well, but if there are issues to come out of the inquiry, I think that will be a good thing. Let’s deal with them in an open and transparent fashion and move forward,” Ludwig said.
Warren Morrical, Estevan’s acting chief of police, says the force supports the inquiry and plans on fully cooperating throughout the process.
“An approach is being taken in order to conduct this inquiry, and we intend to facilitate a successful conclusion in any way that we possibly can,” Morrical said.
The Saskatchewan Police Commission works with police services and boards of police commissioners to promote effective policing throughout the province, the province explains.
“At the conclusion of the inquiry, the Saskatchewan Police Commission will provide a report to the Minister and the affected board. The report may include a number of recommendations,” Saskatchewan Police Commission told Global News in an emailed statement Thursday.
“Commission inquiries are targeted to situations where standards, competency, adequacy, and suitability are the main concern.”
The inquest is expected to last into the fall of 2021.