Policing complaints, appeals and compliments

Municipal police complaint

If you’re not satisfied with the services or policies of a municipal or Indigenous police service, or the conduct of a police officer, the Police Act gives you the right to complain about it.

You can file a complaint about the police 1 year from when the incident took place.

The police will review your complaint and may offer informal resolution and / or investigate as required. If your complaint is formally investigated, the chief of police will send you a 'disposition' letter.

RCMP complaint

You can file a complaint about the RCMP member directly with the:

• local RCMP detachment
• Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General's Provincial Public Complaint Director at [email protected]
• Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP

Sheriff complaint

You can file a complaint about an Alberta sheriff with the Investigative Services Team.

Peace officer complaint

You can file a complaint about a peace officer with the head of the organization that employs the peace officer.

Peace Officer Program

Complaint process

Find out how to file a complaint:

• First Nations Police Officer (PDF, 941 KB)
• First Nations Police Service (PDF, 911 KB)
• Municipal Police Officer (PDF, 52 KB)
• Municipal Police Service (PDF, 52 KB)
• Peace Officer (PDF, 24 KB)
• RCMP (PDF, 30 KB)
• Sheriff (PDF, 54 KB)

To file a complaint against an Indigenous or a municipal police service:

Fill out the Standard Police Complaint form (PDF, 51 KB)

Appeal process

How you appeal a decision about your complaint is based on whether the complaint is related to a municipal or Indigenous police service, the RCMP, a sheriff or a peace officer.

Municipal and  Indigenous police

If your complaint was investigated, the 'disposition' letter from the chief of police will explain that – from the date you receive the letter – you:

• have the right to appeal the decision to the Law Enforcement Review Board for officer conduct complaints, or to the Police Commission for policy and service complaints
• have 30 days to file an appeal

Filing an Appeal with LERB

RCMP review

If you’re not satisfied with how the RCMP handled your complaint, you have 60 days to ask the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP to review it.

Sheriff appeal

You have 30 days to file an appeal with the Sheriffs Appeals Delegate if you’re not satisfied with the decision about your complaint.

Peace officer appeal

If you 're not satisfied with the complaint decision of the organization that employs the peace officer, you have 30 days to file an appeal with the Director of Law Enforcement.

Peace Officer Program

Compliments

To compliment a police service or a police officer who went out of his or her way to help you, use the Alberta Connects message system.