PUBLIC MINUTES

BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS

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Committee Room E, Ground Floor, City Hall
PRESENT:
  • Commissioner J. Custead, Chair
  • Commissioner Mayor C. Clark
  • Commissioner H. Gough, via teleconference
  • Commissioner S. Greyeyes, via teleconference
  • Commissioner K. Healy, via teleconference
  • Commissioner Z. Jeffries, via teleconference at 2:05 p.m.
  • Commissioner B. Penner
ALSO PRESENT:
  • Chief T. Cooper
  • Deputy Chief R. Huisman
  • SPS Executive Director M. Arscott
  • BPC Executive Director L. Nyirfa
  • SPS Solicitor A. Smith
  • BPC Solicitor S. Edmondson
  • SPS Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications A. Edwards
  • City Clerk A. Tittemore
  • Secretary J. Hudson

1.
MINUTES/DELEGATIONS/PRESENTATIONS
 

1.1
Call to Order
 

The Chair called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis People.  She acknowledged those in attendance in-person and via teleconference. 

1.2
Confirmation of Agenda
 

  • Moved By:Commissioner Penner
    1. That the request to speak from Dr. Lori Hanson and Dr. Barb Fornssler dated April 20, 2022, be added to Item 4.1; and
    2. That the agenda be confirmed as amended.

    For (6)Commissioner Custead, Commissioner Mayor Clark, Commissioner Gough, Commissioner Greyeyes, Commissioner Healy, and Commissioner Penner
    Absent (1)Commissioner Jeffries


    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

1.3
Adoption of Minutes
 

  • Moved By:Commissioner Mayor Clark

    That the minutes of the public Board of Police Commissioners meeting held on March 17, 2022, be adopted.


    For (6)Commissioner Custead, Commissioner Mayor Clark, Commissioner Gough, Commissioner Greyeyes, Commissioner Healy, and Commissioner Penner
    Absent (1)Commissioner Jeffries


    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

1.4
Delegations
 

1.5
Chair's Report
 

Chair Custead expressed her gratitude to fellow Commissioners for their recent and ongoing representation of the Board - Commissioner Healy for chairing the March meeting; Commissioner Greyeyes for delivering greetings at the SPS Equity and Cultural Engagement Unit Diversity Breakfast; Commissioner Penner for attending the Cadet Orientation Police Studies program graduation service; Commissioner Gough for observing a hearing, Commissioner Jeffries for sitting on the police pension board; and Commissioner Clark for attending the national CAPG webinar featuring the Board's community conversations.

  • Moved By:Commissioner Penner

    That the information be received.


    For (6)Commissioner Custead, Commissioner Mayor Clark, Commissioner Gough, Commissioner Greyeyes, Commissioner Healy, and Commissioner Penner
    Absent (1)Commissioner Jeffries


    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

1.6
Chief's Report
 

Chief Cooper spoke to the following and answered questions of the Board:

  • recent in-custody death;
  • FSIN Youth Assembly at Whitecap;
  • SPS Exemplary Service Awards;
  • Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police annual firearm amnesty;
  • Ramadan events;
  • body worn camera project;
  • National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week - Provincial 911 excellence in teamwork award to A Platoon dispatch staff;
  • ongoing Covid-19 challenges;
  • retirement of Inspector Larry Vols

The Board commended Insp. Vols’ 43 years of service and expressed best wishes in his retirement. 

  • Moved By:Commissioner Greyeyes

    That the information be received.


    For (6)Commissioner Custead, Commissioner Mayor Clark, Commissioner Gough, Commissioner Greyeyes, Commissioner Healy, and Commissioner Penner
    Absent (1)Commissioner Jeffries


    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

1.7
Environmental Scan
 

Commissioner Healy spoke to the 14 possible grave sites found at the site of the former George Gordon Indian Residential School, near the village of Punnichy; and a partnership between Cowessess First Nation and the potash mining industry to train Indigenous students in the field. 

2.
CORRESPONDENCE/CITY COUNCIL REFERRALS
 

2.1
Public Complaints Commission Members April 2022
This item has attachments. 

1.Public Complaints Commision Appointment Message, April 2022.pdf

A document from Michelle Ouellette, Chair of the Public Complaints Commission, was provided and circulated to the Board on April 12, 2022.

  • Moved By:Commissioner Penner

    That the information be received.


    For (6)Commissioner Custead, Commissioner Mayor Clark, Commissioner Gough, Commissioner Greyeyes, Commissioner Healy, and Commissioner Penner
    Absent (1)Commissioner Jeffries


    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

3.
ROUTINE/STATISTICAL REPORTS
 

3.1
Representative Workforce and Turnover Rates at the Saskatoon Police Service
This item has attachments. 

1.Representative Workforce and Turnover Rates at SPS public agenda.pdf
2.Representative workforce powerpoint April 21 Revised.pdf

A report of the Chief of Police dated April 4, 2022, was provided. 

SPS Executive Director Arscott presented the report with a complementary PowerPoint presentation.

Chief Cooper, Deputy Chief Huisman and Lisa Olson, SPS Director of Human Resources, responded to questions of the Board.

  • Moved By:Commissioner Healy

    That the report of the Chief of Police dated April 4, 2022, be received as information.


    For (6)Commissioner Custead, Commissioner Mayor Clark, Commissioner Gough, Commissioner Greyeyes, Commissioner Healy, and Commissioner Penner
    Absent (1)Commissioner Jeffries


    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

3.2
eCollision - Capital Purchase Approval
This item has attachments. 

1.eCollisions Capital Purchase Approval public agenda.pdf

A report of the Chief of Police dated April 8, 2022, was provided.

Chief Cooper presented the report. 

  • Moved By:Commissioner Penner

    That the Board of Police Commissioners approve the project in accordance with the capital asset policy.


    For (6)Commissioner Custead, Commissioner Mayor Clark, Commissioner Gough, Commissioner Greyeyes, Commissioner Healy, and Commissioner Penner
    Absent (1)Commissioner Jeffries


    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

4.
RESPONSES TO BOARD REFERRALS
 

4.1
Decriminalization for Simple Possession of Illicit Drugs
This item has attachments. 

1.Decriminalization for Simple Possession of Illicit Drugs public agenda.pdf
2.RTS - Drs Hanson and Fornssler.pdf
3.Board of Police Commissioners 2022-04-21 Decriminalization.pdf

A report of the Chief of Police dated April 8, 2022, was provided, along with a request to speak from Dr. Lori Hanson and Dr. Barb Fornssler, University of Saskatchewan, dated April 20, 2022.

Commissioner Jeffries joined the meeting at 2:05 p.m. 

Chief Cooper introduced the matter.  Inspector Patrick Nogier presented the report with a complementary PowerPoint presentation.

Dr. Hanson and Dr. Fornssler addressed the Board with respect to their report on decriminalization in Saskatoon, submitted as an appendix to the SPS report, and the policy options and recommendation within. 

SPS Administration and Drs. Hanson and Fornssler responded to questions of the Board.

  • Moved By:Commissioner Penner

    That the report of the Chief of Police dated April 8, 2022 be received as information.


    For (7)Commissioner Custead, Commissioner Mayor Clark, Commissioner Gough, Commissioner Greyeyes, Commissioner Healy, Commissioner Jeffries, and Commissioner Penner


    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
  • Moved By:Commissioner Gough

    1.  That the Board endorse continued investigation into the right model of decriminalization for Saskatchewan, including the potential for a more formalized de facto model, recognizing that drug use is best addressed through health and not justice intervention; That this endorsement and the reports presented here be forwarded to the Drug Task Force for their consideration highlighting recognition of the need to bring together relevant local stakeholders including people who use drugs and the need to ramp up diversion and stabilization services; and that the reports be also forwarded to various stakeholders mentioned by the University of Saskatchewan;


    For (6)Commissioner Custead, Commissioner Mayor Clark, Commissioner Gough, Commissioner Greyeyes, Commissioner Healy, and Commissioner Jeffries
    Against (1)Commissioner Penner


    CARRIED
  • Moved By:Commissioner Gough

    2.  That the Service report back by Q4 2022 on existing diversion from criminalization relating to drug use efforts by the Saskatoon Police Service, and in consultation with community leadership, report on additional opportunities for the Saskatoon Police Service to employ diversion pathways at enforcement, including support needed to promote additional diversionary services; and


    For (7)Commissioner Custead, Commissioner Mayor Clark, Commissioner Gough, Commissioner Greyeyes, Commissioner Healy, Commissioner Penner, and Commissioner Jeffries


    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
  • Moved By:Commissioner Gough

    3.  That the Board develop and submit a resolution to the Canadian Association of Police Governance (CAPG) that communicates the importance of the work done in this area.


    For (7)Commissioner Custead, Commissioner Mayor Clark, Commissioner Gough, Commissioner Greyeyes, Commissioner Healy, Commissioner Jeffries, and Commissioner Penner


    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

5.
OTHER
 

6.
BOARD INQUIRIES/NOTICE OF MOTIONS
 

7.
IN CAMERA SESSION
 

  • Moved By:Commissioner Penner

    That the Board move In Camera to consider matters exempt to the public under its Governance Policy No. 12.4, Section 10(2) of The Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners Bylaw No. 7531, Section 27(15) of The Police Act, 1990, and Section 21 of The Local Authority Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.


    For (7)Commissioner Custead, Commissioner Mayor Clark, Commissioner Gough, Commissioner Greyeyes, Commissioner Healy, Commissioner Jeffries, and Commissioner Penner


    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

    The public meeting recessed at 3:55 p.m.


8.
RISE AND REPORT
 

The Board convened In Camera at 4:33 p.m. with the following in attendance:

  • All Board members (Commissioners Gough, Greyeyes, Healy, and Jeffries via teleconference)
  • SPS Administration
  • Board Solicitor Edmondson
  • Board Executive Director Nyirfa
  • Secretary Hudson
  • City Clerk Tittemore

Commissioner Mayor Clark left the meeting at 5:26 p.m.

SPS Administration left the meeting at 5:45 p.m.

Board Solicitor Edmondson left the meeting at 6:03 p.m.

Commissioner Jeffries left the meeting at 6:31 p.m.

The Board completed its In Camera session at 6:32 p.m. and reconvened publicly to rise and report, as follows:

  • Moved By:Commissioner Penner

    That the information be received and the submitted correspondence and reports and discussion remain In Camera under Governance Policy No. 12.4, Section 10(2) of The Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners Bylaw No. 7531, Section 27(15) of The Police Act, 1990, and Section 21 of The Local Authority Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.


    For (5)Commissioner Custead, Commissioner Gough, Commissioner Greyeyes, Commissioner Healy, and Commissioner Penner
    Absent (2)Commissioner Mayor Clark, and Commissioner Jeffries


    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

9.
ADJOURNMENT
 

The meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m.

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