Law Enforcement
Law Enforcement
Overview
Experience
People
News + Views + Events

Modern police services operate in a constantly evolving social, political, and legal environment and face evolving legal needs and challenges as a result. The law governing police services and individual officers is unique and grants citizens a variety of opportunities to raise concerns about officer conduct, or concerns about police policy and service delivery. The working environment of a police service is also unique in terms of the human resources-related issues that arise.  Field Law has represented major municipal police services in all aspects of their legal needs. 

The lawyers in our group constantly monitor new developments in policing and police law so that we can provide advice that anticipates and avoids legal problems. Field Law’s services include:

  • Representing chiefs of police in Law Enforcement Review Board proceedings
  • Acting as Presenting Officers at police disciplinary hearings
  • Defending civil claims brought against police services or its members
  • Representing police services in their capacity as employer addressing labour and employment matters such as grievances, human rights complaints, developing organizational policy and strategy, and generally managing their workforce
  • Court applications for third-party records held by police services
  • Privacy disputes, including acting on behalf of a police service in inquiries and related judicial review applications
  • Representing police services at fatality inquiries
  • Preparing and reviewing internal policies and procedures
  • Providing general advice to Professional Standards Branches on regulatory, policy and investigation issues

Police services’ legal issues can arise very suddenly and require immediate action. We work hard to ensure that you receive the advice you need, when you need it.

Fossen v Edmonton (Police Service), 2023 ABLERB 4
Tesfay v Edmonton (Police Service), 2023 ABLERB 13
Tesfay v Edmonton (Police Service), 2023 ABLERB 14
El Hallak v Edmonton (Police Service), 2023 ABLERB 2
Cass v Edmonton (Police Commission), 2022 ABLERB 18
Edmonton Police Service v Alberta (Information and Privacy Commissioner), 2022 ABCA 397
Tesfay v Edmonton (Police Service), 2022 ABLERB 5
Edmonton Police Service v Alberta (Information and Privacy Commissioner), 2021 ABCA 428
MN v Edmonton (Police Service), 2021 ABLERB 25
Snaychuk v Edmonton (City), 2021 ABQB 295
Kaufmann v Edmonton (City) Police Service, 2019 ABCA 272
May v. 1986855 Alberta Ltd, 2017 ABQB 617
Deluca v. Alberta (Law Enforcement Review Board), 2017 ABCA 252
IJ v. Alberta (Law Enforcement Review Board), 2016 ABCA 234
Weber v Edmonton (Police Service), 2014 ABLERB 47
Land v. Law Enforcement Review Board, 2013 ABCA 435
Camrose (Police Service) v MacDonald, 2013 ABCA 225