Saanich Police Board

The municipal police board is the governing body of the independent municipal police department and provides a vital link between the police and the community they serve.

The Saanich Police Board generally meets the first Tuesday of every month; however, the Board does not usually meet in July and August.  The members may be asked to sit on sub-committees or attend other meetings as required.

Composition of the Police Board

The Police Act requires that the board consist of the Mayor, who is designated as Chair, one person appointed by the Council and not more than five persons appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council.  Board members are appointed to a term not to exceed three years and, although they may be reappointed, they cannot hold office for more than six consecutive years. Appointments are initially for one year, can be renewed for two years, and again for three years.  Terms begin and expire June 30th. 

Duties and Functions

The board has the responsibility to set the overall policy for the department and to ensure that procedures are in place to carry out that policy. The chief constable is responsible to the board for ensuring that departmental procedures and overall management are designed in accordance with board policy.

One of the most important tasks a municipal police board undertakes is to hire a chief constable for the department. The chief constable is the chief executive officer of the department, overseeing the hiring of personnel, staff discipline, financial administration and the quality and level of policing services provided to the community. Hiring for this position requires careful planning and a clear understanding of the needs of the department and the community beforehand.

The municipal police board must submit a budget, prepared in consultation with the chief constable and senior staff which estimates what monies will be required for the coming year to provide policing in the municipality.

The municipal police board is the employer of both officers and civilian personnel in the department. As such, the board has the ultimate responsibility for negotiating the collective agreement with the association or bargaining unit representing the employees.

Municipal police boards, comprised of community members who are appointed to provide citizen oversight of police departments, are in a unique position to provide leadership in police/community relations. Police Departments are increasingly moving towards various forms of community policing, e.g. store front offices, neighbourhood watch programs, school programs and bike patrols, aimed at the prevention of crime, and improved detection and apprehension of offenders.

Board members, in their role as governors of the department, should support and encourage these initiatives and demonstrate to the community, by their own involvement, that increased citizen participation will assist in making their community a safer place to live.

Additional information on Police Boards is available on the Provincial government website.