About ASIRT

Independent

Using the Police Act, the Alberta government established ASIRT as an agency that's:

• arms-length from government
• independent from police agencies

ASIRT is led by a civilian executive director, who is a lawyer. The director oversees a 'hybrid' organization that includes a blend of provincial:

• civilian investigators
• seconded police officers from various police agencies

Empowered

ASIRT is authorized to investigate Alberta police officers whose conduct:

• may have caused serious injuries
• may have caused death
• has led to serious or sensitive allegations of police misconduct

Authoritative

ASIRT can lay criminal charges against a police officer if – as a result of an investigation – the executive director believes a criminal offence was committed.

ASIRT's executive director reports their decision – to charge or not charge an officer – to the:

• province's director of law enforcement
• chief of the involved police agency
• police commission for the involved police agency
• police officer that was the subject of the investigation
• person who may have been injured
• family of the person whose death may have been caused
• affected person

Provincewide

ASIRT can investigate police officers in the province's:

• municipal police services
• Indigenous police services
• RCMP

For investigations, ASIRT also has memorandums of understanding with the:

• Yukon government
• RCMP “M” Division

Transparent

ASIRT strives to strike the proper balance between:

• disclosing as much information as possible to the public
• guarding the privacy rights of those involved
• maintaining the integrity of the investigation

Resources

Sharing Information with the Public

Joint Statement from Canadian Civilian Oversight Agencies on Release of Names (2015)

Setting the Record Straight on ASIRT Naming Policy