In Ontario a police services board is a "local board" pursuant to the Municipal Act, but it receives its authority from the Police Services Act, which directs that every municipality maintaining a police force must have a police services board to provide civilian governance of the police force.

Picture of police service board members

Current members of the Kingston Police Services Board (from left to right in photo) are:

  • Professor Christian Leuprecht, provincial appointee
  • Councillor Jamshed (Jimmy) Hassan, council appointee
  • Mayor Bryan Paterson (Vice-Chair), head of municipal council
  • Gail MacAllister, council community appointee
  • Jarrod Stearns (Chair), provincial appointee
  • Lorie Sargeant, Secretary

How to become a member of the Kingston Police Services Board.

Police services board legislated responsibilities

Pursuant to Ontario's Police Services Act, the Kingston Police Services Board is responsible for the provision of adequate and effective police services in the municipality and is required to: 

  • appoint the members of the municipal police force
  • generally determine, after consultation with the chief of police, objectives and priorities with respect to police services in the municipality
  • establish policies for the effective management of the police force
  • recruit and appoint the chief of police and deputy chief of police
  • direct and monitor the performance of the chief of police
  • establish guidelines for dealing with complaints made under Part V of the Police Services Act, as well as to review and receive regular reports on the chief of police's administration of the complaints system under Part V
  • determine and monitor the annual police budget to ensure cost efficiency
  • participate in collective bargaining with representatives from the police associations

Although the Kingston Police Services Board has significant legislated responsibilities, the Police Services Act also strictly prohibits its involvement in day-to-day police operations.  The act provides that police services boards may give orders and directions to the chief of police but not to other members of the police force; however, the act also stipulates that a board shall not direct the chief of police with respect to specific operational decisions or the day to day operation of the police force. 

Board members are subject to the provisions of the Police Services Act and related regulations, including O.Reg. 421/97, Members of Police Services Boards—Code of Conduct.  Board members must work together to balance the interests of the local community with the standards for adequate and effective policing set by the Province of Ontario. 

If you would like more information about the Police Services Board, you may:

Email or call the Kingston Police Services Board Secretary, Lorie Sargeant, at 613-549-4660 ext. 2291.