Every citizen is entitled to fair and impartial service from the police. The Police Services Act, which governs what we do and how we do it, allows members of the public to file an official complaint against the actions of police officers. In the majority of instances, the complaint is resolved by discussing the incident with a supervisor.
Police work is complex, and the rules that apply are sometimes confusing for the public.
Upon request, we will be pleased to discuss our actions, and the laws or procedures that apply, with anyone who believes that additional information is necessary. In instances where the explanations provided to a complainant are not satisfactory, the formal complaint process begins. The complainant will be asked to fill the appropriate form, which will be forwarded to an investigator whose sole task is the review and handling of complaints. The aggrieved individual will be interviewed, the officers involved in the complaint will be asked to provide statements, and the matter will be referred to a senior member of the Service for a determination. The senior officer reviewing the complaint has several options, which range from dismissing the complaint to ordering the officer to stand trial under the Code of Conduct provisions of the Police Services Act.