Two Moose Jaw police officers discharged their service pistols once each in separate incidents, while another used a conducted energy weapon during another episode, according to the Saskatchewan Police Commission’s 2019-20 annual report.
The commission recently released its annual report and provided a glimpse of activities that police forces, colleges, and related organizations undertook from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020. The Saskatchewan Police Commission provides independent oversight of municipal and Aboriginal police services in the province. The commission has broad jurisdiction, including administrative, appellate, audit, inquisitorial, and legislative authority.
The organization is also responsible for promoting efficiency and improving police relations in the community, while regularly consulting with municipal boards of police commissioners, the Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Saskatchewan Federation of Police Chiefs.
Recruit education and training
During the 2019-20 year, 867 candidates attended training through the Saskatchewan Police College. The program focused on training and education of police recruits and training and education of serving police officers.
Recruit training class No. 79 was hosted from July 29 to Dec. 13, 2019, with 24 officers graduating from the program, including three from the Moose Jaw Police Service.
Police services
Moose Jaw had 58 sworn officers authorized to work during the 2019-20 year, although 55 sworn officers actually worked during the year. With Moose Jaw’s population at 33,890 — according to the 2016 census — this means there was one officer for every 616 residents, which was the highest ratio out of the six major cities in Saskatchewan.
In comparison, Prince Albert had 93 actual sworn officers covering 35,926 people, which meant there was one officer for every 386 people.
Use of firearms
While on duty in the 2019 calendar year, one Moose Jaw officer discharged one round from a service pistol to euthanize an injured animal, the report said. In another incident, a member accidentally discharged one round from a service pistol at a training centre without any injury.
In comparison, during the same time, Saskatoon officers were involved in 12 separate incidents where members discharged their firearms to euthanize injured animals. Rifles were used seven times, a shotgun was used once, a carbine was used twice, and a service pistol was used twice.
Use of conducted energy weapons (CEW)
One incident was reported to the commission last year during which a conducted energy weapon — or Taser — was deployed, the report said.
In the incident, officers went to a business about a robbery where the suspect was armed with a hammer. The subject fled before police arrived; however, officers found the man a short distance away. The man was still armed with a hammer and would not obey police commands to drop the weapon and surrender.
“One of the responding members discharged a CEW, which was successful in incapacitating the subject and he was safely taken into custody,” the report added.
In comparison, Prince Albert police used a CEW four times during the year, Regina police used a Taser 10 times, while Saskatoon police used a conducted energy weapon 32 times.
Discipline files
Chiefs of police are responsible for maintaining discipline within their police service and are required to investigate allegations of police misconduct and, where the investigation reveals sufficient evidence of a discipline offence, to take disciplinary action, the report explained.
In the case of public complaints of police misconduct, the Public Complaints Commission is notified and either conducts or reviews the investigation.
During the 2019 calendar year, 119 police discipline files were concluded across the six major Saskatchewan cities, the File Hills First Nation police service, and Corman Park.
In Moose Jaw, there were nine disciplinary files concluded, including one where a remedial action was ordered. Eight complaints were made against police, but after investigations were conducted, it was determined there was no misconduct by officers.
In comparison, Prince Albert also had nine discipline files closed while Saskatoon had 59 files closed.
