Making a Police Complaint in Manitoba
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 Manitoba differs from federal law
Manitoba has a civilian oversight system for complaints about police conduct, primarily through the Law Enforcement Review Agency (LERA) and the Independent Investigation Unit (IIU).
- The Law Enforcement Review Agency (LERA) receives and investigates public complaints about the conduct of municipal police officers and RCMP officers in Manitoba. LERA is independent of the police.
- The Independent Investigation Unit (IIU) investigates incidents involving police where there has been a death, serious injury, or certain criminal offence allegations. The IIU is a civilian-directed agency independent of police services.
- LERA complaints can address officer conduct such as excessive force, improper arrest, rudeness, discrimination, or failure to perform duties.
- After investigation, LERA can refer matters to a provincial court judge sitting as a magistrate for a hearing. Penalties for officers can include reprimand, suspension, or dismissal.
- You can also file a complaint with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission if you experienced discrimination during a police encounter.
Additional Steps in Manitoba
File a complaint with LERA by calling 204-945-8667 or 1-800-282-8069 (ext. 8667), by email, or in writing. There is a 6-month time limit from the date of the incident, though LERA can accept late complaints in some circumstances. For serious incidents (death or serious injury), the IIU is automatically notified by the police service. For human rights complaints, file with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission within 1 year.
Relevant Law: Law Enforcement Review Act, CCSM c. L75; The Police Services Act, CCSM c. P94.5 (Independent Investigation Unit provisions)
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.