Media Release - Inspector Lisa Simonson Leading with Courage and Compassion

Media Release - Inspector Lisa Simonson Leading with Courage and Compassion

Media Release – Inspector Lisa Simonson Leading with Courage and Compassion

The Prince Albert Police Service continues to build on policy and procedure to manage and support the high volume of calls for service officers on patrol respond to each shift. The recent addition of a fourth inspector to the administration team to oversee Patrol will ensure better alignment with police service priorities, policies and legislation.

Inspector Lisa Simonson was appointed to the role of Patrol Inspector in February. She has 22 years of experience in policing, and was previously serving in the rank of sergeant in Prince Albert. This week, Inspector Simonson was featured in a new video by the Government of Saskatchewan in celebration of International Women’s Day. The video can be viewed by clicking the link here. It features a discussion with Inspector Simonson on her work in public safety, the challenges she has overcome in her career, and her efforts to help other women reach their career goals. Inspector Simonson has a leadership role in helping to advance opportunities for women in public safety through Saskatchewan Women in Policing (SWIP), where she remains the inaugural president and is a founding member. The non-profit organization is aimed at promoting opportunities for women and celebrating those who contribute to the safety and security of communities across the province.

“I think it’s important for women to go into any profession that they dream of going into,” Inspector Simonson says in the video. “I’ve seen more women have a seat at the table, where it matters.”

Throughout her career, Inspector Simonson has served on patrol and with the family safety unit, and spent several years investigating major crimes with the Criminal Investigation Division. She has prior experience with both Vancouver and Edmonton police services, where she also took on the coordination of major fundraisers in support of community groups including Big Brothers Big Sisters and Special Olympics. Inspector Simonson has a background in science and originally intended on a career in forensic science before deciding to work on the front lines.

She said she continues to see opportunities build for women working in public safety roles.

“Women provide a different perspective,” Inspector Simonson said. “It’s important to have balance and diversity in every profession and recognize the strengths that each person brings. We offer different skills in different situations.”

With a high number of calls for service each year, Chief of Police Jonathan Bergen said Inspector Simonson brings an informed and decisive approach to her new role.

“Inspector Simonson leads with courage and integrity and has the confidence to help lead our organization as we work to build and grow in service to our community,” Chief Bergen said.

Deputy Chief of Police with the Prince Albert Police Service, Farica Prince, said Inspector Simonson is a leader both within our police service and throughout the wider community.

“While managing our very busy Patrol section, Inspector Simonson continues to work to promote opportunities for women in all areas of public safety,” Deputy Chief Prince said. “Her leadership sets a strong example for others, whether they are thinking about a career in public safety or already serving on the front lines.”

In the first few weeks since taking on this new role with the Prince Albert Police Service, Inspector Simonson has reviewed PAPS policy and procedures relating to our detention area, Patrol structure, and dispatch of officers to calls for service. She has also been working to review policy regarding intimate partner violence and missing persons reports, working in coordination with our HUB, PACT, and Victim Services Unit to ensure a more thorough approach to these investigations.

Previously, the Patrol division was one of many other responsibilities that one inspector was overseeing, in addition to police detention and custody.

The change follows the tragic death of a 13-month-old child from our community. As an organization, we continue to work toward measures to better align our professional policies with our community’s needs and expectations and we remain accountable in the performance of our duties to serve every member of our community. This file and our initial response is being independently investigated by the Saskatchewan Public Complaints Commission to ensure that accountability and we ask for patience as that process continues until all facts are determined.

Police administration continues to listen and work with Indigenous leaders and our community partners to balance our work with the values and expectations of our community. We are also engaged in constructive and ongoing dialogue with our Board of Police Commissioners as we continue to implement measures aimed at improving and aligning our professional policies with the needs of our community.

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