REGINA, Sask. — Final arguments are now underway at the Saskatchewan Police Commission hearing where Farooq Sheikh is appealing his dismissal as Regina police chief.
Lawyer Mitchell Holash, representing the Regina Board of Police Commissioners, and Brian Pfefferle, representing Sheikh, were expected to make presentations Wednesday morning on what is expected to be the final day of the hearing, although Sept. 24 has also been set aside if needed. It is not yet known how soon a decision could come down in the appeal.
Sheikh is appealing his Oct. 2025 firing for cause by the Board of Police Commissioners. The three-member Saskatchewan Police Commission panel, led by chair Aaron Fox, heard evidence and testimony over four days last week.
Taking the stand last week to testify were Shawn George, who was the Public Complaints Commission investigator in the case, Mayor Chad Bachynski and, finally, Sheikh himself.
Some of the key evidence and testimony from last week focused on text messages that went back and forth between Sheikh and the complainant, whose name is covered by a publication ban, during an in-camera meeting on Dec. 12, 2024. Sheikh was excused from the confidential meeting, which had focused on the topic of Sheikh’s employment contract.
During his testimony last week, Mayor Bachynski was critical of the texting that went on, using the word “betrayal” to describe it. He testified it was “completely inappropriate and completely breaks trust with the board, and obviously with the public … this is not how the public would expect a chief of police to operate.”
Another key date from the evidence was Feb. 26, 2025, when Sheikh had a phone call with the complainant in which he asked her to consider that the text messages between the two be deleted. Audio from that call was replayed during the hearing.
The testimony also included evidence about the relationship between Sheikh and the complainant, including “flirty” banter that went on. But Sheikh testified last week that he was not interested in a romantic relationship.
Holash is currently giving his closing submission to the panel, and it is expected Pfefferle will follow with his submission afterward.
