Police Chiefs Comment On Police Act Changes

New Brunswick’s municipal police chiefs are welcoming changes proposed to the Police Act this week.

The New Brunswick Association of Chiefs of Police (NBACP) issued a statement Wednesday, one day after the legislation was introduced.

“We all want the Police Act updated to ensure that we can continue providing essential public safety services with the respect, transparency and confidence of the public in New Brunswick,” Chief Alain Lang, president of the association, said in a news release.

In particular, the association points to proposed changes to time limits for processing complaints under the act.

Lang said this is one of the primary changes the association has been advocating for over the years.

“It is our hope that moving forward, that this change would encourage all complaints to be dealt with in a timelier manner,” said Lang.

Lang said the association also welcomes a proposed model related to the unpaid suspension of officers.

Currently, officers can only be suspended without pay if convicted of a provincial or federal offence.

But the new legislation would cap paid suspensions at 180 days before suspension without pay would take effect.

Lang said it will take some time to review all of the changes in the bill and to further discuss how the recommendations will impact policing overall in the province.

“We are pleased to see this process moving ahead, and we look forward to ongoing cooperation of all the parties involved,” he said.