Thompson Fire & Emergency Services captain Ashling Sweeny is one of five new Manitoba Police Commission appointees announced by the provincial government Jan. 10.
Sweeny, a member of Cross Lake First Nation with experience as an emergency medical responder in Cross Lake and a child development counsellor in Thompson, is appointed for a three-year term along with new chairperson David Asper of Winnipeg, Jeannette Acheson of Winnipeg, Rick Kenderdine of Virden and George Wright of Winnipeg. They join returning members Ernie Blais of Winnipeg, Desirée Gillespie of Stonewall and Mamadou Ka of Winnipeg.
“The Manitoba Police Commission provides well-considered and insightful advice on important matters related to law enforcement and civilian governance of policing on behalf of all Manitobans,” said Manitoba Justice Minister Cullen in a press release. “I am pleased to welcome David Asper as the commission’s new chairperson, who will be joined by a strong team of new and returning members with a broad range of expertise and experience.”
The commission provides civilian input on police services and the conduct of police officers in the form of advice to the minister, public consultations, support to municipal police boards and oversight of the civilian monitor program that observes independent investigations of police officers. The commission’s advice and consultations with stakeholders will be considered during the Manitoba government’s review of the Police Services Act that was announced in the 2018 Throne Speech.
