Community Accountability
Calgary Police Service Community Accountability
Accountability is one of our core values. Our philosophy of policing is built on the principles created by Sir Robert Peel in 1829, including the fundamental belief that our ability to perform our duties is dependent on public approval of our actions.
Reporting to you on our actions is an important way we work to maintain your trust.
How we are held accountable
Police oversight in Alberta allows both for civilian oversight and an arms-length separation between law enforcement and other branches of government so our political neutrality is protected.
Several bodies work together to set the overall standards, budgets and policies that direct our actions.
Key statistics - 2023
579,964 calls for service
0.04% resulted in a formal complaint
70% of files closed within 12 months
58% of files resolved using body-worn camera
Expectations are set for us by:
Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services:
Sets the overall standards for policing and police oversight in Alberta
Sets our overall budget and appoints Calgary Police Commission members
Allocates our budget, creates policies, monitors complaints, hires and provides high-level direction to our Chief Constable
The Public:
Helps ensure we understand community needs through multiple advisory boards and constant dialogue with community partners
Our actions are reviewed by:
Issues warrants, conducts trials, rules in lawsuits and rules on the legality of our actions in investigations and arrests
Alberta Serious Incident Response Team:
Independently investigates serious or sensitive police misconduct, including incidents causing death or serious injury
Our Professional Standards Section:
Holds officers accountable through internal discipline outlined in the Alberta Police Act
Hears appeals on how serious police misconduct complaints were handled and ensures our complaints process is fair and legal
Celebrates successes and challenges failings through both social and traditional media
Community accountability resources
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Race Data Analysis
Providing a comprehensive overview of demographic data collected during various interactions between CPS officers and the public.
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Budget and priorities
Our total budget is set by Calgary City Council and how we spend it is approved by the Calgary Police Commission.
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Police reform
We are constantly improving and are sometimes given recommendations or direction on things we need to change to better meet the public’s expectations.
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Compensation
Compensation for police officers and civilian employees aligns with the City of Calgary’s compensation philosophy, policies, procedures, and negotiated collective agreements.
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Conduct concerns
On average, about 0.11 per cent of the calls for service we attend result in formal complaints.
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Formal discipline
Formal Complaint Outcome reports show how formal investigations were resolved.
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Use of Force
Officers are required to report any use of force beyond handcuffing and basic physical control techniques.
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InfoPosts
InfoPosts are an intelligence gathering tool used to collect information that may be of value to police. Street checks and officer contacts are reported through InfoPosts.
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Public and Employee Surveys
Each year the Calgary Police Commission (CPC) conducts public and employee satisfaction surveys. The results can be found here.
Our Strategy
Our Strategy
Our overall strategy that guides all our work and decisions
Our Story
Our Story
The philosophy that guides how we deliver service to the community