July 31, 2026
Saskatoon, SK– Below is a statement from the National Police Federation regarding the arrest of a woman on Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation.
“The primary goal of police officers is to keep the public safe while, of course, protecting their own lives and safety and their right to go home to their families at the end of their shift. Police officers are often required to make split-second decisions in rapidly evolving situations, balancing the safety of everyone involved while responding to rapidly evolving circumstances. A short video clip or photograph rarely captures an event’s full context, evolving circumstances and risk, and the safety considerations that officers are balancing.
We support the independent investigation underway by the Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team, and we are confident that all available evidence will be carefully reviewed.
RCMP Members are trained to approach risk situations with ongoing assessment, with tiered enforcement response evolving from communication, to lawful direction, and on to various levels of physical de-escalation.
Their goal is always to resolve situations as peacefully as possible. When an individual refuses lawful directions, actively resists, becomes assaultive, or otherwise creates a safety risk, officers may need to escalate their response using approved and trained techniques to bring the situation under control. When faced with resistance or violence, officers are trained to use the level of force that is reasonable and necessary to safely manage the situation and reduce the risk of harm to everyone involved.
No officer wants to see anyone injured during an arrest. Unfortunately, arrests are not always neat or visually pleasant, particularly when individuals are unwilling to cooperate or when a situation becomes physically confrontational.
We note that an initial review of this file, which included body-worn camera footage, determined that the force used in this incident was reasonable.
Our thoughts remain with the RCMP Members involved. We encourage the public to allow the review process to proceed so that conclusions can be based on all of the evidence, not solely on a single video clip or snapshot of events.”
About the National Police Federation:
The National Police Federation (NPF) represents ~20,000 RCMP Members serving across Canada and internationally. We are the largest police union in Canada. The NPF is focused on improving public safety for all Canadians, including our Members by advocating for much-needed investment in the public safety continuum. This includes investments in police resourcing and modern equipment, as well as social programs including health, addiction, and housing supports to enhance safety and livability in the many communities we serve, large and small, across Canada.
For more information: https://npf-fpn.com/
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