Marlo Pritchard. (Submitted/ SPSA)

By Nigel Maxwell

City Hall

SPSA President expected to join Prince Albert Board of Police Commissioners

Apr 21, 2023 | 2:07 PM

A big change is coming to Prince Albert’s Board of Police Commissioners.

Darcy Sander has resigned as Chair, and as per Monday’s city council agenda, a recommendation is being made to have Marlo Pritchard appointed to join the board. This would be effective May 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023.

Pritchard works with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) and is presently in the role of President/Fire Commissioner. Mayor Greg Dionne confirmed Pritchard is someone he’s had in the back of his mind for a while.

“Because I see him all the time in the city and I knew his expertise, and sometimes you have to step up and go look for that expertise and I’m very pleased he’s accepted to take that position,” Dionne said.

Section 7(5) of the Prince Albert Board of Police Commissioners’ Bylaw No. 21 of 2014 states where a vacancy occurs on the Board, the Council, within one month of the occurrence of the vacancy, shall appoint a person to replace the former Board member for the remaining term of the former Board member.

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A picture taken of Pritchard in 2019. (CJME)

Pritchard has been with the SPSA for just under four years, and was Chief of the Weyburn Police for seven years before that. In total, he has 36 years of operational and administrative police experience, including developing strategic direction and ensuring operational and administrative effectiveness within a policing or governmental organization.

“What I’m excited about is his history in law enforcement, being a policeman, and the quality of leadership he’s gonna bring to the board,” Dionne said, confirming Pritchard will attend meetings in person..

Sander’s resignation was effective April 3. When contacted by paNOW for comment, he declined.

Mayor Greg Dionne expressed his sadness over Sander’s resignation, adding it was for personal reasons. As of Friday, the new board chair had not yet been named.

The recent move comes amid a third party investigation into the police service by Rod Knecht and Associates. Dionne denied the two are in any way related.

“I have no knowledge of what the report details,” he said.

Dionne reiterated Pritchard is someone he’s had in the back of his head for quite some time and an opportunity arose to act on it.

According to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Integrated Justice Services, the information gathering phase of the special inquiry conducted by Rod Knecht and Associates is now complete.

“The ministry is in the process of reviewing the report to determine next steps and assess what action, if any, is required,” they said.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell