The Police Board is a civilian governing body which receives its authority under the Police Act.

As seen below, the Saanich Police Board is comprised of the Mayor, who is designated as a Chair, one person appointed by municipal Council and up to five persons appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. These appointments are not paid positions. Members of the Board volunteer their time and expertise to form a neutral body to oversee policing within the municipality.

Saanich Police Board Members

Mayor Frank Leonard -  Chair
Mr. Bill Bullis
Ms. Gail Flitton
Mr. Chris Pease
Ms. Lori Staples, QC

Legislated Mandate and Main Oversight Functions

The role of a municipal police board is to establish a municipal police department and to provide general direction to this department, in accordance with relevant legislation and in response to community needs.  Municipal police boards are created independently from municipal councils and from the provincial government.  This removes boards from partisan council politics and recognizes that both the municipality and the province have legitimate interests in municipal policing.

The Police Board performs four main governing functions:

   1. Employers of sworn and civilian staff;

   2. Policy and direction setters;

   3. Financial overseers; and

   4. Discipline authorities for policy and complaints.

Important pieces of legislation and agreements of concern to Board members include the following:

• Police Act;
  
  
• Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act;
  
  
• Employment Standards Act;
  
  
• Public Service Act;
  
  
• Criminal Code of Canada, R.S.C c.C46;
  
  
• Key Municipal Bylaws; and
  
  
• Collective agreements.

Meetings

General Board meetings are open to the public. Police Board meetings are usually on the first Tuesday of every month at 16:30 hrs in the Kirby Room of the Saanich Police Department.

Anyone interested in attending is asked to contact the Mayor's Office at 250-475-5510 to confirm time, date and locations of the meeting.