'Listen, learn and improve': New Regina police chief excited for upcoming role
Regina’s new Chief of Police Farooq Hassan Sheikh says he is excited to be part of an affordable, diverse and growing city.
Sheikh spoke to members of Regina’s media virtually on Wednesday from Edmonton and mentioned the in-depth search Regina Police Service (RPS) and the Board of Police Commissioners conducted as something that impressed him.
“I want to listen, learn and strive to improve,” Sheikh said. “I want to be open and honest and when we make mistakes and we will [we need to] accept it and agree to it rather than be in denial,” he added.
Sheikh said it’s his hope that when people call the police at their very worst they can be at their very best.
Sheikh comes to Regina after serving as chief for the Alberta Sheriff’s Service since 2021 and also has extensive experience in policing in the United Kingdom.
He also holds a master’s degree in criminology, something Sheikh said he hopes to put to operational use to help address issues Regina and other cities across Canada are currently facing.
For Sheikh some of those problems include social issues, homelessness, mental health, addictions and drugs.
Sheikh said he feels they are large issues that police can’t tackle alone – adding they need to be in collaboration with social services, mental health leads and other strategic partners like housing providers.
Sheikh’s first day as Regina’s 15th Chief of Police will be Dec. 1.
“I’m passionate about being a police officer so when they told me I got the job I was so happy and just wanted to tell everybody but I couldn’t tell anyone until it was official,” he explained.
“But really excited and looking forward to the opportunity.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
opinion Tom Mulcair: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's train wreck of a final act
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader and political analyst Tom Mulcair puts a spotlight on the 'spectacular failure' of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's final act on the political stage.
B.C. mayor gets calls from across Canada about 'crazy' plan to recruit doctors
A British Columbia community's "out-of-the-box" plan to ease its family doctor shortage by hiring physicians as city employees is sparking interest from across Canada, says Colwood Mayor Doug Kobayashi.
'There’s no support': Domestic abuse survivor shares difficulties leaving her relationship
An Edmonton woman who tried to flee an abusive relationship ended up back where she started in part due to a lack of shelter space.
opinion King Charles' Christmas: Who's in and who's out this year?
Christmas 2024 is set to be a Christmas like no other for the Royal Family, says royal commentator Afua Hagan. King Charles III has initiated the most important and significant transformation of royal Christmas celebrations in decades.
Baseball Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson dead at 65, reports say
Rickey Henderson, a Baseball Hall of Famer and Major League Baseball’s all-time stolen bases leader, is dead at 65, according to multiple reports.
Arizona third-grader saves choking friend
An Arizona third-grader is being recognized by his local fire department after saving a friend from choking.
Germans mourn the 5 killed and 200 injured in the apparent attack on a Christmas market
Germans on Saturday mourned the victims of an apparent attack in which authorities say a doctor drove into a busy outdoor Christmas market, killing five people, injuring 200 others and shaking the public’s sense of security at what would otherwise be a time of joy.
Blake Lively accuses 'It Ends With Us' director Justin Baldoni of harassment and smear campaign
Blake Lively has accused her 'It Ends With Us' director and co-star Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment on the set of the movie and a subsequent effort to “destroy' her reputation in a legal complaint.
Oysters distributed in B.C., Alberta, Ontario recalled for norovirus contamination
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a recall due to possible norovirus contamination of certain oysters distributed in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.