Civilian oversight mulled for special constables
SASKATOON The Saskatchewan government is reviewing how complaints relating to special constables within its Protection and Response Team (PRT), such as conservation officers and the Saskatchewan Highway Patrol (SHP), are handled.
The SHP, despite having a law enforcement mandate and responsibilities that include high-risk vehicle stops and clearing buildings, is not subject to the same civilian oversight as municipal police.
The Public Complaints Commission’s director, John Clarke, confirmed the commission does not provide civilian oversight over the SHP and doesn’t have the authority or jurisdiction to receive or initiate public complaint investigations concerning the agency.
A spokesman for the Ministries of Justice and Corrections and Policing said in a statement that Corrections and Policing is responsible for receiving and reviewing complaints involving special constables such as conservation officers and SHP officers operating as part of the PRT.
“Government is currently reviewing potential enhancements to the complaints process for special constables as part of the overall review of police oversight in Saskatchewan,” he wrote.
Currently, the justice ministry is reviewing civilian oversight bodies in other Canadian jurisdictions and is having discussions with police services in the province “to determine what improvements can be made,” the spokesman said.
No specific timeline is in place for an announcement on the way the province handles police oversight, according to the Ministry of Justice.
The SHP’S mandate is to enforce traffic regulations and apprehend speeders and drunk drivers. In addition to wearing soft body armour, its officers currently have Ar-15-style rifles as well as pistols, according to a Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure spokesman. Officers will also soon get hard body armour meant to offer protection from rifle fire.
To the highways ministry’s knowledge, no civilian complaints or concerns have been brought forward since the mandate change, its spokesman said.
The SHP has been looking for a supplier for 60 new Level 3 hard body armour units, with the potential to purchase more as needed. The SHP has been involved in high-risk vehicle stops and has also assisted with building clearing. The request for proposals closed Dec. 19.
The spokesman for the highways ministry said the SHP is also seeking soft armour to replace expired and near expired vests and to purchase vests for new recruits. He said the ministry is buying this armour to provide more protection for situations where there is potential for rifles to be involved.
No shots have been fired — either at or by officers — since July 1, 2018, when the SHP’S mandate changed; nor have highway patrol officers seized weapons.
According to the justice ministry, conservation officers and SHP officers responded to about 230 emergency calls, including traffic stops, issuing warnings, laying charges and responding to requests for support from police.