Municipal police complaint
If you are 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 or the conduct complained of took place or when you first knew it occurred.
A complaint may be submitted to the chief of police or the relevant police commission. Complaints against a chief of police are sent to the police commission.
The police service will review your complaint and may offer informal resolution and investigate as required. If your complaint is formally investigated, the chief of police will send you a disposition letter to let you know the outcome.
Contact the relevant police service to find out about this process.
RCMP complaint
You can file a complaint about the RCMP member directly with the:
Sheriff complaint
You can file a complaint about a member of the Alberta Sheriffs Branch with the Investigative Services Team. Members of the Sheriffs Branch include the Sheriff Highway Patrol and the Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Service.
Peace officer complaint
You can file a complaint about a peace officer with the head of the organization that employs the peace officer.
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 Municipal Police Complaints form (PDF, 51 KB)
Provincial public complaint director
The provincial public complaint director does not investigate complaints.
The provincial public complaint director can give you information about the police complaints process.
The director may also receive complaints about police in Alberta and then refer your complaint to the appropriate organization.
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.
How you appeal a decision about a police complaint is also based on the nature of the complaint and whether it is a conduct complaint or a policy or service complaint.
Municipal 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
RCMP review
If you are 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 are not satisfied with the decision about your complaint.
Peace officer appeal
If you are 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.
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.
Contact
Connect with the provincial public complaint director.
Email: [email protected]
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