What We Do

Section 31 of the Police Services Act sets out the responsibilities Boards must fulfill on behalf of the residents of their municipality. The primary role of the board is to establish, after consultation with the Chief of Police, the overall objectives and priorities for the provision of police services and the safety and security of citizens. Some of its other key responsibilities include:

• Appoint the members of the Police Service;
• Recruit and appoint the Chief of Police and Deputy Chief(s) of Police and annually determine their remuneration;
• Annually assess the Chief’s performance;
• Approve the annual operating and capital budgets for the Police Service;
• Establish policies and by-laws for the effective management of the Police Service;
• Establish guidelines for dealing with complaints made under Part V of the Police Services Act;
• Review the Chief’s administration of the complaints system under Part V of the act and receive regular reports;
• Prepare a business plan for the Police Service every three years.
• Negotiate the collective agreements for the Service;
• Establish policies respecting the disclosure by the Chief of Police of personal information about individuals;
• Receive regular reports from the Chief of Police on disclosures and decisions made under section 49 (secondary activities) of the act;
• Establish guidelines with respect to the indemnification of members of the Police Service for legal costs under section 50 of the act;

The Board cannot direct the Chief with respect to specific operational decisions or day-to-day operations of the Service. The Chief of Police is responsible for administering the Police Service and overseeing its operation in accordance with the objectives, priorities and policies established by the Board.