Independent
Using the Police Act, the Alberta government established ASIRT as an agency that's:
- arms-length from government
- independent from police agencies
ASIRT is led by a civilian executive director, who is a lawyer. The director oversees a 'hybrid' organization that includes a blend of provincial:
- civilian investigators
- seconded police officers from various police agencies
Empowered
ASIRT is authorized to investigate Alberta police officers whose conduct:
- may have caused serious injuries
- may have caused death
- has led to serious or sensitive allegations of police misconduct
Authoritative
ASIRT can lay criminal charges against a police officer if – as a result of an investigation – the executive director believes a criminal offence was committed.
ASIRT's executive director reports their decision – to charge or not charge an officer – to the:
- province's director of law enforcement
- chief of the involved police agency
- police commission for the involved police agency
- police officer that was the subject of the investigation
- person who may have been injured
- family of the person whose death may have been caused
- affected person
Provincewide
ASIRT can investigate police officers in the province's:
- municipal police services
- Indigenous police services
- RCMP
For investigations, ASIRT also has memorandums of understanding with the:
- Yukon government
- RCMP “M” Division
Transparent
ASIRT strives to strike the proper balance between:
- disclosing as much information as possible to the public
- guarding the privacy rights of those involved
- maintaining the integrity of the investigation
Resources
Sharing Information with the Public
Joint Statement from Canadian Civilian Oversight Agencies on Release of Names (2015)