An annual policing plan
Publish service priorities, the reasons behind them and how progress will be measured. Give residents a meaningful opportunity to identify concerns.
Police reform • A proposal for Charlottetown
Public oversight.
Clear accountability.
Independent policing.
Daniel Mullen proposes a Charlottetown Police Commission: a dedicated public forum for policing priorities, resources and performance, with a clear boundary protecting professional police operations.
Residents deserve answers about the service they fund. Officers deserve clear priorities and the resources to do their work.
01Civilian oversight
A dedicated body focused on policing policy and performance.
02Public priorities
Clear service objectives informed by residents.
03Visible results
Regular reporting on resources, service and follow-through.
04Professional command
Investigations and operational decisions remain with police.
A dedicated Police Commission
Oversight with a clear job to do.
The proposed commission would bring elected representatives and independent civilian expertise together to scrutinize policing priorities, spending and service performance.
Its mandate would focus on whether Charlottetown’s police service has a clear plan, adequate resources and measurable results. The Chief would participate in reporting and planning within the lawful governance structure.
Appointments should use published qualifications, an open process and conflict-of-interest rules. The final membership and legal powers would be established through the required approval process.
What residents would see
Priorities, budgets and results.
Regular public reporting
Report on response by call priority, staffing, vacancies, overtime, training and service demand, with context and privacy protections.
Budget scrutiny
Explain staffing and equipment requests, examine spending against the plan and make recommendations through Council’s lawful budget process.
Meetings people can follow
Publish agendas, minutes and decisions. Hold discussions in public except where a lawful confidentiality requirement applies.
Clear complaint pathways
Help residents find the correct complaint process and examine broad service trends. Preserve the existing statutory complaint and independent investigation processes.
Follow-through on problems
Track agreed improvements and report progress. Ask whether recurring service problems have actually been resolved.
Put skills where they are needed
Give police time for police work.
The Police Commission proposal sits alongside Daniel’s plan for eight Municipal Safety Officers.
MSOs would handle lawful municipal bylaw, parking, nuisance and property-standard work, with evidence and file support where appropriate. Crimes in progress, violence, arrests and serious criminal investigations remain police responsibilities.
The commission would examine workload and coordination so residents receive a clear response and officers have more time for work requiring police powers.
Read the MSO planTwo complementary responsibilities
Police oversight. Shared emergency readiness.
Police Commission
Focused civilian scrutiny of policing policy, priorities, resources and performance, within the powers lawfully assigned to it.
Emergency Services Commission
Integrated planning for fire, police, municipal safety and disaster readiness: facilities, communications, logistics, exercises and capital priorities.
The two mandates must be written together to avoid duplicated direction. Shared planning would not transfer police investigative decisions to another commission or a civilian manager.
Questions and answers
What this means in practice.
Can the City simply transfer all police powers to a commission?
No. The proposal must be reconciled with PEI’s Police Act and Council’s statutory responsibilities. Where additional authority is needed, Daniel would seek provincial enabling changes. Until then, any new body must stay within its lawful advisory and oversight role.
Would this replace the provincial Police Commissioner?
No. The proposed municipal Police Commission is a local governance proposal. It would not replace the provincial Police Commissioner or statutory police complaint and serious-incident investigation processes.
Would commission members direct officers on patrol?
No. The commission’s role would be policy, resources and accountability. Police leadership would retain professional operational command.
Is the final membership already decided?
No fixed number of seats or appointment formula is being announced here. The proposal calls for elected representation, independent civilian expertise, transparent appointments and clear conflict rules.
Implementation
Build a lawful, accountable structure.
Publish a proposed mandate. Review it with the Province and municipal counsel. Consult residents and police leadership. Bring the required instruments to Council with clear reporting obligations and a defined relationship to the Emergency Services Commission.
Legal reference: PEI Police Act. The Act assigns responsibilities to Council, the Chief and provincial authorities; this proposal does not assume those responsibilities can be reassigned by a campaign commitment.
Daniel Mullen for Mayor
A safer, better-prepared Charlottetown.
Bring your questions to a Town HallProposed policy • October 2026. Implementation requires the applicable Council, provincial and regulatory approvals.
The Right Change.Right Now.