Abbotsford Police Board
The legislative function of the Abbotsford Police Board is to provide general direction to the Abbotsford Police Department in accordance with relevant legislation and in response to community needs.
The Police Board is a civilian governing body which receives its authority under the Police Act. Police boards perform four main governing functions:
- Employer of sworn and civilian staff
- Policy and direction setters
- Financial overseers
- Discipline authorities for policy and service complaints
- In consultation with the Chief of Police, the Police Board establishes the objectives and priorities of the Abbotsford Police Department
- Approves the budget as prepared and presented by the Chief of Police prior to its submission to municipal council for approval. The Police Board also negotiates and approves the collective agreements.
The Abbotsford Police Board is comprised of the Mayor, who is designated as Chair, one person appointed by municipal council and up to five persons appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. Members of the Abbotsford Police Board are not paid.
Municipal police boards are created independently from municipal councils and from the provincial government. This removes boards from partisan council and politics and recognizes that both the municipality and the province have legitimate interests in municipal policing.
