When the news came down last week that the Saskatchewan Police Commission would be conducting an inquiry into concerns about working conditions at the Estevan Police Service, it left people with a lot of questions. Some of those questions won't be answered until the inquiry is complete. 

Other questions, however, have an immediate answer, and Police Commission Executive Director Corey Zaharuk was able to provide more information on a few of those. While he kept the specifics on the current inquiry close to the chest, he was able to explain under what circumstances they typically conduct an inquiry.

"The commission can conduct an inquiry where policing standards, competency, adequacy and suitability are of concern," he said. "The Saskatchewan Police Commission has specific jurisdiction in these areas, including the ability to make recommendations on policy, conduct audits, and provide training."

According to Zaharuk, the Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers, which includes the Estevan Police Association, brought concerns to the commission about the EPS. Members of the Estevan Board of Police Commissioners and members of the public also expressed some concerns, though Zaharuk could not yet say specifically what those were. 

"We met with all of the people that brought concerns forward and this is a really unique situation," he said. "I complemented each group because we really have a number of people asking for this inquiry and to set an objective understanding of what is happening and how we can all move forward."

Heading the inquiry is Aaron A. Fox, a Regina-based lawyer whose areas of expertise include criminal law, professional discipline and civil litigation. While the leader of an inquiry is not always a member of the legal community, the skills associated with that profession do make it helpful. 

"(Fox) is very well respected both within the legal community and the policing community in Saskatchewan," Zaharuk said. "He was really interested in taking on this role. He's very qualified and he's not in any conflict of interest whatsoever."

Fox's role in the inquiry will include conducting interviews with members of the EPS, who will be able to remain anonymous. Before conducting those interviews, Fox will explain how they can retain their privacy.

"This is a fact-finding inquiry first and foremost," Zaharuk said. "We're looking to understand what has occurred, make potential recommendations, and just ensure an objective understanding of what's happened. If there are recommendations that come out of this inquiry, those will be made to the Board of Police Commissioners in Estevan."

The Saskatchewan Police Commission has legislated authority to mount inquiries like this, but it's extremely rare for them to do so. In fact, the inquiry into the Estevan Police Service's working conditions joins a very small list. 

"There have been two inquiries under subsection 89 of the Police Act," Zaharuk said. "That's two inquiries since about 1991. There were more inquiries prior to this version of the Police Act, but that was before the establishment of the Public Complaints Commission." 

Zaharuk added once the inquiry was done it would have the power to make recommendations to the board, and those recommendations tend to be followed, though it may take time for them to take effect. 

'We know that change doesn't occur overnight," he said. "What we want to do is work with board members and the community to make sure the standard of policing is where it needs to be."

Zaharuk was not able to say directly whether the inquiry was related to the death of former EPS Constable Jay Pierson.

"What I will tell you is that, from a broad perspective, the inquiry is intended to primarily focus on workplace culture, health and wellbeing supports for police officers, the role and responsibilities of the Chief and the Estevan Board of Police Commissioners, and what impact these may have on the quality of police services in Estevan."