A Saskatoon Police Service investigation has led to the dismissal of three service members.
The ears of the public were first perked last year when Police Chief Cam McBride announced that an “off-duty gathering” had landed five officers on the suspended list.
An investigation commenced, and one year later, two constables with nine and ten years of service, and a special constable with two years of service have been removed from their positions. The two others returned to work this past April.
“The length of the investigation should suggest or forecasts the fact that it was a very complex investigation with regard to several witnesses, several interviews, ensuring that each aspect and element of the investigation was done thoroughly,” he assures.
For the better part of the year, Saskatoon residents were left in the dark as to why the members were suspended, but it’s alleged that the suspensions occurred following an assault between two service members at a house party where an alleged biker gang member also happened to be present.
“We’ve done a very, very thorough investigation into whether or not there was compromise. At this point, I do not believe there was any indication or conformation that any type of issue has resulted.”
Although McBride believes that no undercover investigations were compromised, new policy surrounding the matter has been implemented.
“We have introduced policy that is part of our conflict-of-interest policy. That policy does include investigating circumstances where a relationship to someone is deemed to be undesirable for the organization,” McBride explains.
Although the Saskatoon police service investigation has concluded, the Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team is still looking into the matter; one aspect in particular, which McBride did not disclose. The dismissed members have a right to appeal the decision, but McBride says he has not heard that any will be doing so as of yet.
The police service says there have also been three other suspensions involving unrelated investigations in November 2024, and January and February of 2025. A 22-year Sergeant suspended in November 2024, was dismissed in March 2025. Two other investigations are ongoing, and the members remain suspended.
The Police Chief acknowledged local media reports which raised questions around the integrity of undercover operations and in a news release said, “”I recognize the concern the incident and subsequent investigations raised in our service and in the community. The public trust and wellbeing of all our members continue to be our priorities. A service is challenged when even one of its members strays from that commitment, but I am dedicated to lead an organization that upholds the Code of Ethics we have all sworn to.”
