The Board of Police Commissioners has welcomed three new members to the group, all of whom are excited to help contribute to policing and safety in the community.
The Moose Jaw Police Service organized a swearing-in ceremony at the library’s performing arts theatre on Jan. 4, which saw commissioners Doug Blanc, Crystal Froese, Patricia Martynook and Nicole Swanson take their oaths and start their year-long term.
Mayor Clive Tolley was absent from the ceremony; the mayor is automatically appointed to the board under The Police Act.
Blanc and Tolley served on the board last year; Froese served several years ago; and this is the first time for Martynook and Swanson.
The police service also swore in three new officers during the ceremony.
Swanson was thrilled to join the board since she spent 22 years as an officer in Regina and Calgary before retiring four years ago. She was anxious to see the industry through a different lens and from a different angle compared to being a constable on the street.
“I’m hoping to lend some knowledge and first-hand experience when we’re making decisions and listening to things that are happening within the community,” she said.
Swanson’s experience was the driving force behind her interest in joining the board, along with the challenge it presents. Chuckling, she noted that she is unable to get policing “out of (her) blood” and wanted to find a way to return to the field.
The new police commissioner worked with Rick Bourassa, Moose Jaw’s current police chief, when they were both in Regina. Since the police chief reports to the police board, Swanson jokingly said she looked forward to bossing around her former colleague.
Swanson says she listens to her neighbours and friends about the issues that most concern them, while she also relies on her experiences. What she’s hearing is that people are concerned about drugs, break-ins, theft and homelessness in the community.
“I’m looking forward to hearing about what the plan is and what procedures they already have in place and what we can help do to mitigate those things that are happening within the community,” she said.
Swanson added that she was looking forward to rejoining a policing-type organization while she was looking for ways to make life better for everyone.
Martynook is excited to join the police board since she thinks it’s great and will allow her to give back to Moose Jaw. She wanted to join because she has a background in law, having spent 30 years with Legal Aid Saskatchewan before retiring five years.
“I have a passion for access to justice, so I think this is probably a great place to start, (especially) if you’re overseeing the policing of the city … ,” she said.
Martynook hopes to collaborate with other board members and determine how to continue leveraging the police chief’s knowledge to serve the community better. She is unsure if changes need to be made to the community’s policing since she is new, but as a citizen, she sees how the homeless situation is affecting the downtown and wants to learn how that’s being addressed.
Besides her time with Legal Aid Saskatchewan, the new police commissioner recently finished up a nine-year stint with the Regina Airport Authority’s board of directors, including time as its chair.
“I think (that experience) will help tremendously. I have a really strong background now in governance. I did go and take the training and become certified as a professional director,” Martynook added.
“And I think this is what this police commission is all about, is governance, so I’m excited to bring that to the commission.”
