New police oversight commission launched in province; ASIRT now PRC

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on December 4, 2025.

newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com

In an effort to better hold police officers accountable for their actions, the province has launched a new oversight commission called the Police Review Commission, which will act as a centralized body to review and address public complaints.

The PRC will now act as the independent body responsible for receiving complaints, conducting investigations and overseeing disciplinary hearings into a single independent agency and will take over for the current Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, referred to as ASIRT.

The PRC officially went live Monday and will handle complaints in three main categories classified by a level system.

Level one complaints include death, serious injury and serious or sensitive allegations involving police. Level two complaints include allegations of criminal and other statutory offences involving police, while level three will include all complaints about non-criminal misconduct involving municipal and First Nations police services.

Any complaints outside these categories will be directed to the appropriate agencies “ensuring every concern finds the right home for review,” said Mike Ellis, minister of public safety and emergency services.

“With this new model Albertans can be confident investigations will be handled fairly and impartially, and we also recognize that the timely and transparent complaint resolution process is essential for both the public and the police.”

To ensure a timely complaint process for the public, the PRC must complete all of its investigations within 180 days, and if more time is needed, the chief executive officer must report delays publicly and provide justification.

“Meaningful public engagement is essential to modern policing, and the commission’s work will help ensure community voices remain central to this process,” said MHPS chief Alan Murphy, who also serves as president of the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police. “Our shared goal has always been to build a safe, respectful and trusted environment for all Albertans.”

Murphy says the Association of Chiefs of Police welcomes the establishment of the PRC as a response to calls from the public asking for greater transparency and accountability from police, and calls it an important next step to strengthening independent police oversight in the province.

“Police leaders across Alberta value constructive engagement with stakeholders and we welcome mechanisms that support continuous improvement for the profession of policing,” said Murphy.

According to the province, the PRC will work within “arm’s length” with government and police services to ensure there is a clear, systemic and accountable process for processing public complaints.

“Our goal is to build trust in policing by delivering timely resolutions and fair, consistent outcomes that put people first,” said Michael Ewenson, intern CEO of the PRC. “Every complaint will be reviewed thoroughly and handled with the transparency and respect Albertans expect and deserve.”

The PRC can also initiate systemic reviews to be published for the public related to police conduct or emerging trends it sees fit without the need for a public complaint.

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