REGINA - Opposition New Democrats are calling on Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Tim McLeod, to release a report conducted by the Public Complaints Commission investigating a Marshals Service officer.
News broke this week that a report has been delivered and that the marshal officer being investigated has resigned.
The NDP’s Justice critic Nicole Sarauer called on Minister McLeod to “be straight with the people of Saskatchewan” and release the report.
Sarauer also took the opportunity to once again blast the Marshals Service which the NDP has opposed since it was announced.
“Eighty-nine communities in the National Police Federation have opposed this new agency from the get-go. Many still have questions about oversight and concerns that the Marshals are poaching officers from the RCMP and local police forces, taking boots off the ground. This is a brand new police agency that has already been marred by controversy. I would hope that the Minister would want to try to rebuild trust and be straight with the people of Saskatchewan.”
She said there was precedent for these reports being made public.
“The Government of Saskatchewan has released the findings of PCC investigations or entire reports in the past, especially in cases of public interest, including one in 2023, 2015 and two times in 2013. McLeod needs to think long and hard about the message he will send if he chooses to hide this report.”
In speaking to reporters Sarauer also acknowledged it raised questions about the Marshals service being overseen by a ministry instead of a more public body that could provide oversight.
“We've raised concerns as well as other individuals, other organizations in the province have raised concerns about a police body that answers to the minister, the lack of oversight and accountability that will result from that,” said Sarauer.
She also pointed to “concerns that we've heard about vetting and recruiting within the Marshals.”
“I think this particular complaint and investigation speaks to all of those concerns. The minister needs to show that this issue has been addressed by releasing the contents of the report and explaining how his Marshals Service has worked to ensure that this never happens again.”
Sask Today has reached out to the province for comment and will update with their response.
