Making a Police Complaint in Alberta
Reviewed by the Commoner Law Editorial Team. Sourced from Canadian federal statutes and official sources. Provincial information reflects each province's own legislation and court rulings. Written in plain language for general understanding — this is educational content, not legal advice. Our editorial standards
What is this right?
Filing a complaint against a police officer in Canada is your right, and the routes depend on which force the officer belongs to.
For the RCMP, complaints go to the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission (CRCC). For provincial and municipal forces, each province runs its own oversight body:
- Ontario: Law Enforcement Complaints Agency (LECA)
- British Columbia: Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC)
- Alberta: Alberta Law Enforcement Review Board (LERB) / Police Review Commission
- Quebec: Commissaire a la deontologie policiere
Complaints split into two: conduct complaints (the officer's behaviour) and service or policy complaints (the force's procedures or training).
Where someone has been killed or seriously injured during a police encounter, you don't need to file — investigation is automatic, by a specialised civilian unit (Ontario's SIU, Alberta's ASIRT, Quebec's BEI).
When does it apply?
Anyone can file — citizenship status is irrelevant.
- Covers misconduct, excessive force, unlawful search, and discrimination.
- Time limits vary — usually somewhere between 6 months and 1 year — so move fast.
What to Do If a Police Officer in Canada Mistreats You or Violates Your Rights
The strength of any police complaint is the level of detail. Capture it before memory blurs.
- Write down everything as soon as you can — dates, times, badge numbers, exact words.
- Photograph injuries and damage immediately.
- File with the right body: RCMP at crcc-ccetp.gc.ca; Ontario at leca.ca; BC at opcc.bc.ca.
- File in writing and keep a copy of everything you send.
- For anything serious, talk to a lawyer before filing — strategy matters.
What should you NOT do?
- Don't sit on it. Time limits are strict and seldom extended.
- Don't exaggerate. Investigators discount complaints that overreach. Stick to what you saw.
- Don't confront the officer. The formal process is the only one with teeth.
- Don't post the story on social media before filing. Defence counsel will use it.
How Alberta differs from federal law
Alberta has a multi-layered system for complaints about police conduct, involving internal professional standards, civilian oversight, and independent investigation bodies.
- Internal complaints: You can file a complaint with the police service's Professional Standards unit. Municipal police services (Calgary Police, Edmonton Police, etc.) each have their own professional standards branch.
- RCMP complaints: For RCMP officers (who police most rural Alberta and smaller cities), file a complaint with the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP (CRCC).
- ASIRT (Alberta Serious Incident Response Team) investigates serious or sensitive matters involving police, including officer-involved shootings, deaths in custody, and serious injuries. ASIRT is independent from police services.
- Law Enforcement Review Board (LERB) is a civilian tribunal that hears appeals if you are dissatisfied with how a police service handled your complaint. LERB can order a new investigation or a hearing.
- Complaints about police conduct must generally be filed within 1 year of the incident under the Police Act.
Major change: the Police Review Commission (PRC) went operational 1 December 2025
Alberta's civilian police-oversight landscape was substantially restructured by the Police Amendment Act, 2022 (SA 2022 c. 22 / Bill 6), SA 2024 c. 6, and SA 2025 Bill 49. The Police Review Commission (PRC) went operational on 1 December 2025 (albertaprc.ca) and is now the central intake and investigation body for municipal and First Nations police-service complaints in Alberta.
Older guidance that said "file directly with the police service" is out of date for incidents occurring on or after 1 December 2025. Complaints filed before midnight 30 November 2025 continue with the originating police service under the prior regime.
Three complaint levels under the PRC
- Level 1 — death, serious injury, or sensitive matters. Investigated by ASIRT.
- Level 2 — other criminal or statutory offences alleged against officers. Investigated by ASIRT.
- Level 3 — non-criminal misconduct (Code of Professional Conduct breaches). Investigated by PRC investigators.
Target: conclude investigations within 180 days. Expected volume is 3,000-4,000 complaints per year; FY2026 budget is approximately $24.4M.
ASIRT — now a unit of the PRC, but still called ASIRT
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) is now organisationally a unit of the PRC but retains its name and serious-incident role. ASIRT's jurisdiction was expanded in 2025 to cover all police services including RCMP officers (for serious incident investigations), peace officers, and the Legislative Assembly Security Service. Since 1 December 2025, ASIRT is not a stand-alone agency — do not describe it that way.
LERB — appeals only
The Law Enforcement Review Board (LERB) continues under Police Act s. 9 as the appeals body for police-complaint decisions. LERB does not receive initial complaints and does not investigate — it hears appeals from PRC outcomes. Do not confuse LERB (appeals) with the PRC (intake and investigation).
RCMP non-criminal misconduct — still CRCC
The PRC cannot discipline RCMP officers. Non-criminal RCMP misconduct continues to go to the federal Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP (CRCC) at crcc-ccetp.gc.ca or 1-800-665-6878. Serious-incident investigations involving RCMP can be picked up by ASIRT under the 2025 expansion, but discipline of RCMP members remains federal.
Peace officers and sheriffs
Complaints about sheriffs and other peace officers go to the Investigative Services Team at the Ministry of Public Safety, not the PRC.
Clarifying note: the Police Act was amended by Bill 6 (2022) and subsequent statutes — it was not "replaced." The RSA 2000 c. P-17 framework remains, substantially restructured around the PRC.
Additional Steps in Alberta
File police-service complaints (for incidents on or after 1 December 2025) directly at albertaprc.ca. For serious incidents involving death or serious injury, ASIRT at 780-644-1483 remains the correct route (now as a PRC unit). For RCMP non-criminal misconduct, contact the CRCC at 1-800-665-6878 or crcc-ccetp.gc.ca. Sheriffs and peace-officer complaints go to the Ministry of Public Safety's Investigative Services Team. Appeals of complaint outcomes: Law Enforcement Review Board (LERB) at 780-422-9376. Legal Aid Alberta at 1-866-845-3425 can assist with legal advice.
Relevant Law: Police Act, RSA 2000, c. P-17, as substantially amended by Police Amendment Act 2022 (SA 2022 c. 22 / Bill 6), SA 2024 c. 6, and SA 2025 Bill 49; Police Review Commission operational 1 December 2025 (albertaprc.ca); Police Service Regulation, Alta. Reg. 356/1990; Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act, RSC 1985, c. R-10, Part VII (CRCC); Peace Officer Act, SA 2006 c. P-3.5
Common Questions
When does making a police complaint apply?
Anyone can file — citizenship status is irrelevant.Covers misconduct, excessive force, unlawful search, and discrimination.Time limits vary — usually somewhere between 6 months and 1 year — so move fast.
What should I do if a police officer in Canada abused their authority or treated me unfairly?
The strength of any police complaint is the level of detail. Capture it before memory blurs.Write down everything as soon as you can — dates, times, badge numbers, exact words.Photograph injuries and damage immediately.File with the right body: RCMP at crcc-ccetp.gc.ca; Ontario at leca.ca; BC at opcc.bc.ca.File in writing and keep a copy of everything you send.For anything serious, talk to a lawyer before filing — strategy matters.
What mistakes should I avoid with making a police complaint?
Don't sit on it. Time limits are strict and seldom extended.Don't exaggerate. Investigators discount complaints that overreach. Stick to what you saw.Don't confront the officer. The formal process is the only one with teeth.Don't post the story on social media before filing. Defence counsel will use it.
Making a Police Complaint in other states
Same topic, different jurisdiction. Pick the one that applies to you.