City of Saint John releases Police Governance Review, confirms path forward to strengthen transparency, accountability and public trust

The City of Saint John today released the findings of an independent Police Governance Review, reaffirming that the current Police Commission model remains the right approach for the community, while identifying opportunities to modernize and strengthen oversight, transparency and alignment with community expectations.

The review was commissioned by Common Council in 2025 as part of its commitment to ensuring strong, effective and accountable governance of policing in Saint John. Conducted by an independent expert, the review included stakeholder engagement, benchmarking against comparable jurisdictions, and an assessment of police governance practices.

Police governance in New Brunswick is guided by provincial legislation and standards that have evolved over time. In Saint John, the current model has been shaped through the application of these frameworks, and this review represents a timely and proactive opportunity to assess and strengthen that approach in line with current best practices.

This review also reflects evolving community expectations across Canada for greater transparency, accountability, and alignment between policing and the communities they serve.

The review concludes that a modernized and reinforced Police Commission model is “fit for purpose” and can play a stronger role in ensuring policing is aligned with the needs, values and expectations of Saint John residents.

“This report confirms that we have a solid foundation in place,” said Donna Noade Reardon. “Our focus now is on strengthening that foundation to enhance transparency, improve accountability, and ensure policing continues to reflect the priorities of our community.”

The report outlines a series of recommendations to:

• Develop a clear mandate for the Police Commission, established by Common Council, outlining its roles and responsibilities, expectations for transparency and public reporting, community engagement, and how policing priorities will be aligned with community needs and Council’s strategic objectives
• Strengthen communication and reporting between the Commission, Council and the public
• Enhance community engagement and transparency in decision-making
• Align policing priorities with community needs and expectations
• Support ongoing training, governance best practices, and performance oversight

A key principle emerging from the review defines “adequate policing” as policing that is aligned with community needs, values and expectations, with an emphasis on reasonableness and responsiveness.

The review highlights that a strengthened Police Commission will have a direct and positive impact on police performance, community safety and public trust.

City Council will now review the recommendations and work collaboratively with the Saint John Police Commission and the Saint John Police Force to develop an implementation plan.

“This is about continuous improvement,” said Police Commission Chair Tamara Kelly. “We are committed to ensuring our governance model reflects best practices and delivers the level of accountability and transparency our community expects.”

The full report is available at: https://pub-saintjohn.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=26038.