Police board

A police board is an appointed form of local government charged with the responsibility of overseeing a local police force.

In the United States, the term is used for some police departments. For example, the Chicago Police Board oversees the Chicago Police Department.

In Canada, the police board is charged with overseeing a territorial police department - the term is also used for the same function in Scotland. Every municipality in Canada that operates their own police force is required to establish such a board. The legislation of Police Boards is in the jurisdiction of each provincial legislature.

All municipalities with a population over 5,000 are required by the British Columbia Police Act to provide for a police service. Municipalities in this category have two options: contract with the provincial government for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or create an independent local police agency or department.

Municipalities that choose to operate an independent police force are required to create a civilian oversight body called a "Police Board". Members of the police board are civilian members of the community and are appointed by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General through an Order in Council. A police board usually has between five and eight members, depending on the size of the municipality. The Mayor of the municipality is, by law, automatically the Chairperson of the board. One other member of board is usually nominated by the municipality to represent the municipality's interest. Board members are selected from a variety of backgrounds and are usually appointed for one or two year terms. They may be re-appointed to a maximum of six years service. Except for the Mayor, municipal councillors may not be appointed to the municipality's police board.

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