Ten law professors are pleading with the province’s Justice minister to support establishing a civilian-led board to oversee police operations in Newfoundland and Labrador.

In an open letter to Justice Minister John Hogan, the Dalhousie law professors say the creation of such a board is “critical to the rule of law.”

They also say it would bring the province into line with other Canadian jurisdictions, adding it’s essential to ensure “the transparency and accountability of police.”

The letter details a number of functions that the board would perform, including setting high-level policies related to the recruitment and training of officers, establishing use-of-force standards, and consulting with individual towns to identify policing priorities.

The letter also expresses support for the 26 proposals for change recently put forward in a draft report by the First Voice Working Group on Police Oversight.

Justice Minister Statement

In a statement to VOCM News this afternoon, Hogan said he’s committed to transparency and accountability in policing to ensure people have faith and trust in the system.

“I appreciate the work of First Voice and I remain committed to meeting with First Voice following the release of their final report to discuss their recommendations and what they have heard through their consultation process, including comments from the professors of law at the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University.”