RPS chief responds to findings that officer committed privacy breaches

Regina’s police chief is responding after a report was published about an officer improperly searching a police database.

“I understand deeply the responsibility we have to the public, and the expectations of the public rightfully include a higher standard of conduct for us,” said Regina Police Service (RPS) Chief Lorilee Davies in a written statement to the Leader-Post.

“This officer, in doing this, failed to meet not only our expectations, but those of our community. We know that public trust is crucial to us being able to serve the community.”

Davies’ statement comes after a report dated Dec. 11 from the Office of the Saskatchewan Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC), which concluded the officer’s conduct resulted in a series of privacy breaches and offered a list of recommendations.

“The police officer inappropriately accessed the personal information of six citizens of the City of Regina 67 times,” the OIPC report states.

The report also indicates that affected individuals included a former partner of the police officer, the former partner’s sibling, and the former partner’s previous partner, as well as other individuals.

Davies’ statement notes the RPS Professional Standards Unit was “made aware of this potential privacy breach in the summer of 2024.”

A formal investigation followed and revealed the officer improperly accessed an RPS internal database on multiple occasions between 2021 and 2023, according to the statement.

None of the searches were conducted for work purposes, notes Davies’ statement, adding that RPS notified the affected parties as well as the OIPC.

“The officer, a 10-year Constable, acknowledged his actions, and took full responsibility for what he had done,” the statement says.

He was suspended without pay for one day, according to the RPS.

Davies’ statement also notes the officer participated in training for ethics and accountability, as well as access and privacy.

“He will also be subject to random audits for a minimum of two years,” the statement says. “The decisions made regarding discipline were based on a number of factors, among them, The Police Act 1990 and applicable case law.”

The statement goes on to note that, in recent years, the RPS has implemented a number of new policies and procedures related to accessing information.

The Regina police force is “always looking at ways to improve” and that will continue, including further review of the OIPC report and recommendations, adds Davies’ statement.

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