New Police Complaints Commissioner Appointed.
Attorney General and Justice Minister Barbara Adams has appointed William (Bill) MacDonald as the Nova Scotia Police Complaints Commissioner for a three-year term effective immediately.
Mr. MacDonald replaces retired provincial court judge Patrick Curran.
“On behalf of all Nova Scotians, I want to thank Mr. Curran for his many years of service to the justice system,” said Minister Adams. “I also want to welcome Mr. MacDonald to this important role. The wealth of experience he has in relation to policing and justice will ensure that police agencies have appropriate oversight and Nova Scotians can have confidence that their voices will be heard.”
Mr. MacDonald previously served as police oversight consultant and investigator for the Nova Scotia Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner. He has also been a senior investigative analyst with the British Columbia Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner, and he was a lead investigator for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
The Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner is responsible for investigating complaints by citizens alleging misconduct by municipal police officers. It also provides the administrative support needed by the Police Review Board to carry out its responsibilities.
Quotes:
“I look forward to providing rigorous oversight as Police Complaints Commissioner so that both the public and police can have trust in the complaint process.”
— William (Bill) MacDonald, incoming Nova Scotia Police Complaints Commissioner
Quick Facts:
- Mr. Curran’s term expired Friday, May 31
- the commissioner is paid $65 per hour, to a maximum of full-time hours, plus expenses
- in 2022, the commission received 182 public complaints and 43 internal complaints
Additional Resources:
Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner: https://novascotia.ca/opcc/
Source : Provincial Release
