Manitoba introduces bill that would strengthen police misconduct investigations

The Manitoba government is planning changes that it says will bolster investigations into alleged police misconduct.

A bill now before the legislature would introduce fines and jail time for most police officers who do not comply with “reasonable” requests from the Independent Investigation Unit.

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The bill would also forbid the unit — a civilian-led body that oversees police — from hiring active police officers as investigators.

The bill would also create a director of Indigenous and community relations.

Justice Minister Cameron Friesen says the bill is based on an independent review of provincial police law a year ago.

The bill stops short of requiring officers who are the subject of in investigation to agree to be interviewed.