About the PRC
The PRC is an independent body dedicated to fair oversight and building trust between police and communities.
Why the PRC was created
The Police Review Commission (PRC) was established to bring a modern approach to addressing complaints about police conduct in Alberta. Born out of the need for more transparent, fair, and independent oversight, the PRC was created to ensure that all Albertans have confidence that their concerns are taken seriously, and that the process is impartial and free from conflicts of interest.
The PRC was designed to address concerns of accountability and bias by offering a centralized, independent body for reviewing police conduct and ensuring that complaints are handled fairly and efficiently.
With a focus on building trust between communities and law enforcement, the PRC works to strengthen confidence in policing by providing clear, accessible processes for all parties involved. Our mission is simple: every voice is heard and every complaint is treated fairly, while upholding the highest standards of fairness, transparency and accountability.
Our Values
Objective and fair
The PRC is committed to maintaining impartiality and fairness in all its actions. It ensures that all complaints are handled independently, without bias toward any party.
Responsive
Timely and efficient processes are key to our work. It prioritizes quick, clear, and helpful communication with all parties involved.
Integrity
The PRC operates with honesty and principle, ensuring that all cases are conducted ethically and responsibly, upholding the trust placed in the organization.
Transparent
The PRC values transparency, making sure that its actions and decisions are open to public scrutiny. It provides clear and accessible processes to ensure public understanding.
Collaborative
The PRC fosters collaboration through ongoing engagement with the public, police and communities. By working together, the PRC promotes accountability and better policing.
The PRC CEO
Michael Ewenson, KC
Michael Ewenson, KC was appointed interim CEO of the Police Review Commission (PRC) on July 23, 2025. Mr. Ewenson is a former prosecutor who served as deputy chief prosecutor in Calgary for 10 years. Following his work as a prosecutor, Mr. Ewenson served as executive director of the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) from 2022 until his appointment as interim CEO of the PRC. Under Mr. Ewenson’s leadership, ASIRT significantly reduced a long-standing investigative backlog and is well-positioned to continue its work as part of the PRC from December 2025 onward.
Mr. Ewenson received his initial legal education in Canada and in 2015 obtained his LLM in international criminal law from the National University of Ireland. After earning that degree, Mr. Ewenson was a sessional instructor in the law of evidence at the University of Calgary.
The CEO’s role in notices and oversight
Organization overview
Discover the key units that help us fulfill our mission and ensure a clear, accessible process for handling police complaints.
Registrar
The PRC registrar is responsible for overseeing a roster of presiding officers who conduct disciplinary hearings. This ensures that any officer appearing at a hearing has their case managed by a neutral party, rather than by someone from their own police service, promoting fairness and impartiality throughout the disciplinary process.
Investigative units
The investigative units, one of which is ASIRT, are responsible for thoroughly examining allegations and complaints about police conduct. These units gather evidence, conduct interviews, and assess the facts to determine whether the allegations are substantiated. They work diligently to ensure that all investigations are objective, fair, and thorough, providing the foundation for appropriate resolutions.
Case management
The case management unit is the first point of contact for members of the public who want to file a complaint. This team gathers initial information, provides information about the process and ensures complaints are appropriately categorized and assigned to the correct unit for further action.
Corporate services
The corporate services branch supports the PRC’s day-to-day operations, providing essential services such as legal advice, policy development, media relations, and financial management. This branch helps ensure that the PRC functions efficiently and effectively, while also overseeing strategic planning, public communication, and stakeholder engagement efforts.
Resolution
The resolution team works to resolve complaints through various means, including alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods. This unit is dedicated to finding fair, timely, and satisfactory outcomes for all parties involved. It uses a range of techniques, from facilitated discussions to restorative justice practices, to address concerns and foster better relationships between the community and law enforcement.
ASIRT
ASIRT began operations in 2008, as an independent, civilian-led agency mandated to investigate cases of death, serious injury and serious or sensitive allegations involving all police services in Alberta. ASIRT is continuing this work as part of the PRC, with an expansion of its mandate to include serious incidents involving peace officers. A new team within ASIRT has been established to investigate other criminal and statutory offences involving police officers.
Fostering trust in police oversight by building relationships
We believe that building strong, positive relationships between communities and law enforcement is essential for a safer, more just Alberta. We work to bridge gaps, foster understanding, and promote collaboration, ensuring that all voices are heard and respected.
Training and development
The PRC is committed to continuous growth and development. All employees receive comprehensive training to equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to handle all cases with fairness, impartiality and a trauma-informed approach.
FAQs
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the PRC.
The PRC is a civilian-led agency that independently investigates the actions of police in Alberta, ranging from criminal allegations to complaints from the public about non-criminal misconduct.
No. The PRC is independent of police services and arm’s length from the government. The PRC is headed by a civilian chief executive officer who independently oversees the agency.
For general inquiries, please use the contact form on our website and choose the relevant topic from the dropdown menu.
To make a complaint, click one of the “make a complaint” buttons on the website, or call 780-644-0306.
If you’re from a news organization and have a media inquiry, please email PRCmedia@gov.ab.ca or call 780-644-0306.
