Regina Police Chief Farooq Sheikh has been fired following an investigation into complaints made against him, and Mayor Chad Bachynski says he will not receive severance pay.
Sheikh, who was hired by the police force in 2023 to take over from outgoing chief Evan Bray, was removed from active service in April, pending an investigation by the Public Complaints Commission. In a statement issued at the time, the police service said Sheikh was sidelined “in order to ensure the integrity and independence of the investigation.”
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Lorilee Davies has been serving as interim chief during the investigation.
While details of the complaints against Sheikh have not been made public, a letter leaked this spring indicated that a complaint was filed by Alicia Morrow, a member of Regina’s board of police commissioners.
Morrow’s lawyer Sharon Fox characterized the leak as an attempt to intimidate her client, and said the allegations under investigation are “serious” in nature.
Morrow was a member of the board of police commissioners from August 2024 until earlier this year.
She was listed as a member who was present at the commission’s meeting in January, was not there in February, and was no longer listed for the March meeting.
At the time, Morrow’s lawyer, Sharon Fox said she had been dealing with harassment and emotional harm.
“This breach is not just a violation of privacy — it is emblematic of the broader crisis facing Indigenous women, who are disproportionately subjected to violence, retaliation, and institutional silencing when they come forward,” read the statement from Fox.
“The timing and nature of this leak only reinforce the systemic barriers Indigenous women face when seeking justice and accountability.”
The board is set to hold a news conference at police headquarters in Regina at noon on Tuesday to share the details on the investigation. 980 CJME will bring you the details as soon as they become available.
Before working in Regina, Sheikh worked with the Alberta Sheriff’s Service. He also previously worked with the London Metropolitan Police and West Midlands Police in the United Kingdom, as well as the Calgary and Central Saanich police services.
— more to come …
