Calgary's police commission under fire over HR departures

The resignations of two HR officials of the Calgary Police Service (CPS) have sparked “speculation and rumour” about the ability of the police commission to oversee the service, a union leader alleged.

Les Kaminski, president of the Calgary Police Association, called the departures a “fiasco” signalling “systemic problems with the oversight mechanism for our police service”.

Kaminski called on Brian Thiessen, chair of the police commission, to resign. 

The departures of CHRO Sheila Ball and another key HR official came only months after the police commission committed to improving the service’s HR department.

In 2017, allegations of bullying and harassment at the CPS surfaced, which sparked moves for reform.

Another officer, Kim Prodaniuk, raised concerns about the recent turnover of HR officials: “Does anyone else in this room find that strange that key people leading HR reform are quitting or being let go after a year?”

Prodaniuk, director of the National Women in Law Enforcement Association, called on the police commission to hold exit interviews with those tasked to lead change to determine who exactly is “blocking reform efforts”.

Calgary’s police commission monitors certain functions, such as hiring the city’s police chief and addressing workplace issues, at the CPS.

HR and business leaders in Calgary hoping for clarity on the city’s most important HR concerns, such as reforming a workplace culture, have an opportunity to learn at the HR Leaders Summit Calgary in December. For more information, visit http://calgary.hrleaders.ca