Regina Police Chief Farooq Sheikh Fired After Misconduct Probe

Regina Police Chief Farooq Sheik has been terminated with cause following an investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct, Saskatchewan’s Public Complaints Commission confirmed on Tuesday.

The investigation found that Sheik exchanged inappropriate private communications with a member of the Board of Police Commissioners regarding potential changes to his employment contract. The board member, who filed the complaint earlier this year, has not been identified publicly.

Regina Mayor and Police Board Chair Chad Bachynski announced the decision, emphasizing that maintaining public trust in the police service was the board’s top priority.

“At the end of the day, our job is to maintain public trust in the police service,” Bachynski said. “This decision ensures our continued commitment to integrity and accountability.”

Sheik was initially suspended with pay on April 4 after the public complaint was filed. At the time, both the Regina Police Service and the Public Complaints Commission withheld details pending the completion of the investigation.

According to the Justice Ministry, the commission submitted its final report to the Board of Police Commissioners on September 30. The board completed its own review of the findings last week before announcing the termination.

In a public statement, the board outlined two primary allegations investigated by the commission. The first claimed that Sheik used his position to influence the board members’ role and employment contract discussions—an allegation the commission found unsubstantiated.

However, the second allegation—concerning inappropriate private communications—was substantiated and became the basis for his dismissal.
The commission found that Sheik had engaged in private text message exchanges with the board member over several months, some of which occurred while board discussions about his employment contract were ongoing. During at least one in-camera meeting, Sheik sent messages to the board member despite being excused from the session.

The board’s statement noted that Sheik’s messages were kept secret from other members of the board and the police service, and he even suggested the messages be deleted to avoid detection.

The commission concluded that Sheik’s conduct “seriously offends the core Regina Police Service values of integrity, transparency, and accountability” and that he failed to take responsibility for his actions.

“We hold people, especially those in positions of authority, to a very high standard,” Bachynski said. “These were personal decisions that did not align with those standards.”

Details about the exact nature of the text messages were not released publicly, and the board said it would not provide further comment due to confidentiality concerns.
Sheik was appointed as Regina’s police chief on December 1, 2023, after previously serving as the Chief of the Alberta Sheriffs. His tenure lasted just over ten months before his suspension and subsequent termination.

Deputy Chief Lorilee Davies, who has served as acting chief since April, will continue to lead the force until a permanent replacement is appointed.
The Regina Board of Police Commissioners said it remains focused on ensuring stability within the police service and restoring public confidence following the leadership controversy.