View source for Saskatoon Police Service

{{Short description|Police service of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
|agencyname     = Saskatoon Police Service
|nativename={{Lang|fr|Service de police de Saskatoon}}
|logo           = Coat of arms of the Saskatoon Police Service.png
|logocaption    = Coat of arms of the Saskatoon Police Service
|motto          = {{lang|la|Neque Timore Neque Favore}}
|mottotranslated= ({{Langx|en|Neither by fear nor by favour}})
|formedyear     = 1903
|legaljuris     = Municipal/provincial
|headquarters   = 76 25th Street East<br />[[Saskatoon]], [[Saskatchewan]]<br />S7K 3P9 {{Location|52.1343829634765|-106.66670092008314|display=inline,title}}
|stationtype    = Station
|stations       =
|minister1name  = The Honourable [[Tim McLeod]]
|minister1pfo   = Minister of Justice and Attorney General
|chief1name     = Cam McBride 
|chief1position = [[Chief of Police]]
|chief2name     =  Dave Haye
|chief2position = Deputy Chief <ref>{{cite web|url=http://saskatoonpolice.ca/deputychiefs/|website=Saskatoon Police Service|access-date=26 October 2016|title=Saskatoon Police Deputy Chiefs}}</ref>
|sworn          = 460 regular members and 59 special constables (2017)
|unsworn        = 135 civilians (2017)
|website        = {{URL|https://www.saskatoonpolice.ca/}}
}}
'''Saskatoon Police Service''' ('''SPS'''; {{Langx|fr|Service de police de Saskatoon}}) is the municipal police service in [[Saskatoon]], [[Saskatchewan]], [[Canada]]. It holds both municipal and provincial jurisdiction.  Police Chief Cam McBride is the head of the service. The deputy chief is Deputy Chief Dave Haye (Operations).<ref>{{cite web|title=Deputy Chiefs|url=http://saskatoonpolice.ca/deputychiefs/|website=saskatoonpolice.ca|access-date=1 March 2022}}</ref> The SPS operates in partnership and cooperation with the [[Corman Park Police Service]] and the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]].

==History==
[[File:SPS1905-1910.jpg|thumb|left|1910 Police Force]]

In 1887 the [[North-West Mounted Police]] (NWMP) established a detachment in Saskatoon, in what is now the [[Nutana, Saskatoon|Nutana]] area of the city. The detachment moved across the river to a building on First Avenue between 19th and 20th Streets sometime after the area that is now the downtown was first settled in 1890. In 1889, Constable John Clisby of the NWMP became the settlement's first permanent police officer.

In January 1906, ex-NWMP constable Robert E. Dunning was appointed "Inspector, Constable, Engineer and Liquor License Inspector" for the then-Town of Saskatoon.<ref>City of Saskatoon Archives. Bylaw 49, 16 January 1906.</ref> Prior to that, Dunning had sworn an oath of office as a "Special Constable for the province of Saskatchewan" for November and December 1905. It is not clear what his precise duties or those of his predecessor, William Page Hurst (appointed constable for the then-Northwest Territories, 15 August - 31 December 1905) were, but presumably they were related to law enforcement in Saskatoon.<ref>City of Saskatoon Archives</ref> After Saskatoon was incorporated as a city later that year, Dunning was appointed [[Chief of Police]].<ref>City of Saskatoon Archives. Bylaw 93, 26 January 1907.</ref> In 1910 the first Rules and Regulations of the Saskatoon Police Department were approved.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Grant|first1=Susan|title=The memory box : one hundred years of policing in Saskatoon, 1903-2003|date=2003|publisher=Saskatoon Police Service|isbn=9780973267709|page=5}}</ref>

[[File:Old saskatoon police hq.jpg|thumb|Former Saskatoon Police Service headquarters]]
[[File:Saskatoon Police Service shield.jpg|thumb|100px|Service shield, on new building in 2014]]
[[File:Saskatoon police hq 1.jpg|thumb|One view of the front of the new Police Service headquarters building in 2014]]

In 1930, the force moved into its first purpose-built police station, the Municipal Justice Building on the corner of 4th Avenue and 23rd Street, across from City Hall. In 1977, a new  station was built next to it. The old station was demolished in 1996 and the space became a parking lot. The new building cost roughly $5.5 million and had a floor space of 101,000 sq. feet. On 22 July 2014, Saskatoon's police operations moved into a new, much larger building on the 25th Street extension, between First Avenue and Idylwyld Drive. Built at a cost of $122 million, it is expected that it will serve as the central headquarters for the next 50 years.<ref>{{cite web|title=New Police Headquarters|url=http://www.police.saskatoon.sk.ca/index.php?loc=messages/newhq.php|website=Saskatoon Police Service|access-date=23 June 2014}}</ref>

Dating back to at least 1976, the SPS is known for discrimination against the [[Indigenous peoples in Canada|Indigenous]] people of Canada, through the practice of extrajudicial killings known as the "[[starlight tours]]", where Indigenous people were taken to the edge of the city in the dead of winter and abandoned so they freeze to death. It is unknown how many people have died from these "starlight tours". There are at least three suspected cases that led deaths.<ref name="Tours" />

===International police peacekeeping operations===
With struggling police forces worldwide there is a need for trained police officers to help training these forces. During 2009 and 2010 [[Constable]] Andrew Johnstone went to [[Afghanistan]] to train their police, and [[Sergeant]] Patrick Barbar in [[Kandahar]], Afghanistan. Other members of the SPS have worked in other countries for other UN operations, such as Sergeant Darcel Pittman and former Deputy Chief Keith Atkinson in Kosovo in 2000.

They play widely varying roles within each mission, from patrolling streets and training police recruits to providing humanitarian assistance, ensuring security for elections and investigating human rights violations.<ref>{{cite web|title=International Peace Operations|url=http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/po-mp/index-eng.htm|website=Royal Canadian Mounted Police|access-date=11 February 2011|archive-date=24 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724030309/http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/po-mp/index-eng.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Structure==
The Office of the Chief of the Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) reports to the Board of Police Commissioners.<ref>{{cite web|title=Board of Police Commissioners|url=http://saskatoonpolice.ca/board/|website=saskatoonpolice.ca|access-date=26 October 2016}}</ref> Both Deputy Chiefs, the Legal Services Division and Professional Standards Division report to the Office of the Chief [[chief of police]]. The two Deputy Chiefs manage the Operations Division and Support Services Division. The Operations Division has superintendents for [[Criminal investigation|Criminal Investigations]] and [[Patrol#Law enforcement|Patrol]], and the Public Affairs Unit. The Support Services Division includes Human Resources, Technological Services, Finance, Central Records and Asset Management, Specialized Uniform Operations and Headquarters. Each of the Support Services divisions are managed by a Director (Civilian) or Inspector (Sworn Officer).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://saskatoonpolice.ca/pdf/annual_reports/SPS_2011_Annual_Report_(web).pdf|title= 2011 Saskatoon Police Service Annual Report |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website= saskatoonpoliceservice.ca |access-date= 2016-04-13 }}</ref>  As of 2015 the SPS had 448 sworn Regular Constables, 59 Special Constables and 133 Civilian positions.<ref>{{cite web|title=SPS Annual Report 2015|url=http://saskatoonpolice.ca/pdf/annual_reports/2015_Annual_Report.pdf|website=saskatoonpolice.ca|access-date=26 October 2016}}</ref> The ranks are as follows:<ref>{{cite web|title=2009 Annual Report|url=http://www.police.saskatoon.sk.ca/pdf/annual_reports/2009_Annual_Report.pdf|website=Saskatoon Police Service}}</ref>
{{col-begin|width=50%}}
{{col-2}}
* [[Chief of police|Chief]]
* [[Deputy chief]]
* [[Superintendent (police)|Superintendent]]
* [[Inspector]]
{{col-break}}
* [[Staff sergeant]]
* [[Sergeant]]
* [[Constable]]
* [[Special constable]]
{{col-end}}

==Police chiefs==
* Robert Dunning (1905–1915)
* George Donald (1915–1946)
* Albert Milne (1946–1953)
* James Kettles (1954–1977)
* John Gibbon (1977–1982)
* Joseph Penkala (1982–1991)
* Owen Maguire (1991–1996)
* Dave Scott (1996–2001)
* Jim Matthews (2001)
* Russell Sabo (2001–2006)
* Clive Weighill (2006–2018)
* Troy Cooper (2018-2023)
* Dave Haye (2023-2024)
* Cam McBride (2024- present

==Bruce Gordon Physical Fitness Centre==

Besides being an active athlete, [[Bruce Gordon (Detective Sergeant)|Bruce Gordon]] started out in C Platoon with the Saskatoon Police Service before moving up through the Saskatoon Police Service as Saskatoon Detective Sergeant for in the Sex Crimes Unite as wells as Major Crime/Homicide Unit.<ref name="two">{{cite web|last=Zakreski|first=Dan|title=Saskatoon cop-turned-lawyer called to the bar early in face of terminal cancer diagnosis|year=2017|publisher=CBC News|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/bruce-gordon-police-lawyer-cancer-1.4181329|access-date=May 27, 2021 }}</ref>  Gordon was honoured in 2004 with the Exemplary Service Medal, and again honoured in 2021 with the Chief's Award of Excellence.<ref>{{cite web|title=Community to celebrate life of former Blades Captain and police officer Bruce Gordon |year=2017|publisher=CTV Saskatoon|url=https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/community-to-celebrate-life-of-former-blades-captain-and-police-officer-bruce-gordon-1.3618272|access-date=May 27, 2021 }}</ref>  Police Chief Clive Weighill made an announcement at the special ceremony held to call Gordon to the bar.  In tribute to Bruce Gordon, the Saskatoon Police gym will be named after Bruce Gordon, the ''Bruce Gordon Physical Fitness Centre''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Saskatoon police naming gym after former officer facing terminal cancer|year=2017|publisher=CBC News|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/saskatoon-police-naming-gym-after-former-officer-facing-terminal-cancer-1.4185941|access-date=May 27, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Modjeski|first=Morgan|title=Police service gym to be named after decorated police officer turned lawyer Bruce Gordon |year=2017|publisher=Saskatoon Star Phoenix|url=https://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/bar-ceremony|access-date=May 27, 2021 }}</ref>

== Controversies ==
[[File:2024 08 26 IMG 7014.JPG|thumb|A Saskatoon police SUV in August 2024]]
Accusations against the Saskatoon Police Service have resulted in public inquiries.  One such inquiry took place in 2006. It involved the investigation into the murder of a nursing student in Saskatoon in 1969. [[David Milgaard]] was convicted of this murder but was later cleared of this charge through DNA evidence which was unavailable at the time of his trial.<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/society/crime-justice/the-wrongful-conviction-of-david-milgaard/topic-the-wrongful-conviction-of-david-milgaard.html
|title = The Wrongful Conviction of David Milgaard
|publisher = [[CBC News]]
|access-date = 10 October 2012}}</ref>

On 8 September 2003, The Commission of Inquiry into the death of [[Neil Stonechild]] began, headed by commissioner Justice David Wright. The objective of the commission was to ascertain whether Neil Stonechild was apprehended on 25 November 1990, and while in police custody, driven out of the city and abandoned. The commission was a result of allegations by Darrell Night that two Saskatoon Police Officers dropped him off outside the city in January 2000. The commission found that the two officers, Senger and Hartwig, had taken Stonechild into custody shortly before he died on the outskirts of city. No charges were laid on the two officers but they were both fired.<ref name="Hartwig">{{cite news|url=https://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/im-known-for-the-one-evil-thing-i-didnt-do-in-larry-hartwigs-first-interview-in-10-years-the-former-sps-officer-maintains-his-innocence|title="I'm known for the one evil thing I didn't do"; In Larry Hartwig's first interview in 10 years, the former SPS officer maintains his innocence|last=Warren|first=Jeremy|date=October 24, 2014|work=Saskatoon StarPhoenix}}</ref>

=== Freezing deaths ("starlight tours") ===
{{Main|Saskatoon freezing deaths}}

The Saskatoon Police Service has engaged in what has been called "[[starlight tours]]", the practice of taking [[Indigenous peoples in Canada|Indigenous]] people to the edge of the city in the dead of winter and abandoning them there.<ref name="Tours">{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news2/background/aboriginals/starlighttours.html|title=Starlight Tours|last=Brass |first=Mervin |publisher=[[CBC News|CBC News Online]]|date=2004-07-02 |website=cbc.ca |access-date=2016-04-01}}</ref> In January 2000, Darrell Night was dropped off on the outskirts of Saskatoon but was able to survive. The two officers involved were convicted of unlawful confinement in September 2001 and sentenced to eight months in prison.<ref>{{cite news|url =http://www.cbc.ca/news2/background/stonechild/timeline.html|title =  Neil Stonechild: Timeline|publisher = [[CBC News]]|date = 3 November 2005|access-date = 2016-04-01}}</ref> In 2003, police chief Russell Sabo admitted that there was a practice in place, that the force had been dumping Indigenous people outside the city for years, after revealing that in 1976 an officer was disciplined for taking an Indigenous woman to the outskirts of the city and abandoning her there.<ref name="Windspeaker">{{cite news|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Saskatoon+police+chief+admits+starlight+cruises+are+not+new.%28inquiry...-a0105369747|title=Saskatoon police chief admits starlight cruises are not new|date=1 July 2003|work=Windspeaker|publisher=[[Aboriginal Multimedia Society of Alberta]]|access-date=15 February 2010}}</ref>

Other Indigenous people who may have been subject to "starlight tours" are Rodney Naistus, Lawrence Wegner and [[Neil Stonechild]]. Rodney Naistus and Lawrence Wegner died in 2000 and their bodies were discovered on the outskirts of Saskatoon. However inquests in 2001 and 2002 into their deaths were unable to determine the circumstances that led to their deaths. The inquest juries made recommendations related to police policies and police force relations with Indigenous people.<ref>[http://www.pch.gc.ca/ddp-hrd/docs/cat/2002/sk-eng.cfm Excerpts from Third Report of Canada on the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment]</ref> Neil Stonechild's body was found in 1990 in a field outside Saskatoon. A 2003 inquest was not able to determine the circumstances that led to his death.<ref name="CBC indepth">{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/stonechild/index.html|title=Who was Neil Stonechild?|date=3 November 2005|work=CBC News|publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]|access-date=15 February 2010}}</ref><ref name="Vue">{{cite news|url=http://www.vueweekly.com/article.php?id=1764|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209011211/http://www.vueweekly.com/article.php?id=1764|url-status=usurped|archive-date=9 February 2013|title=Justice of the police|last=Thrall|first=Christopher|date=7 April 2005|work=[[Vue Weekly]]|access-date=15 February 2010}}</ref> Two officers were dismissed from the Saskatoon Police Service for their alleged involvement in this matter. 
 
Between 2012 and 2016, the "Starlight tours" section of the Saskatoon Police Service's [[Wikipedia]] article was deleted several times. An internal investigation revealed that two of the edits originated from a computer within the police service. A spokesperson for the force denied that the removal of content was officially approved by the force.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/saskatoon-police-starlight-tours-wikipedia-delete-1.3512586 |title=Student claims Saskatoon police removed 'starlight tours' section from Wikipedia page |last=Zakraski |first=Dan |publisher=[[CBC News]] |date=2016-03-31 |access-date=2016-03-31}}</ref> On 31 March 2016, the Saskatoon ''[[The StarPhoenix|Star Phoenix]]'' reported that "Saskatoon police have confirmed that someone from inside the police department deleted references to "Starlight tours" from the Wikipedia web page about the police force."<ref name=starphoenix>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> | title=Someone at city police headquarters deleted 'starlight tour' references on its Wikipedia page| newspaper=Saskatoon StarPhoenix | date=31 March 2016|url=https://thestarphoenix.com/storyline/someone-at-city-police-headquarters-deleted-starlight-tour-references-on-its-wikipedia-page/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401195746/https://thestarphoenix.com/storyline/someone-at-city-police-headquarters-deleted-starlight-tour-references-on-its-wikipedia-page/|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 April 2016}}</ref> According to the report, a "...police spokeswoman acknowledged that the section on starlight tours had been deleted using a computer within the department, but said investigators were unable to pinpoint who did it."<ref name=starphoenix /> The police spokeswoman stated that the force is working to "move forward with all of the positive work that has been done, and continues to be done that came out of the Stonechild inquiry."<ref name=starphoenix />

==See also==
* [[Rotary Museum of Police and Corrections]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}

{{Law enforcement agencies in Canada}}
{{COI on Wikipedia}}

[[Category:Law enforcement agencies of Saskatchewan]]
[[Category:Politics of Saskatoon]]