Former police chief Weighill to lead coroner’s office review

Saskatoon’s former police chief has been appointed to a new case.

The province announced Wednesday Clive Weighill will lead the external review of the chief coroner’s office.

The review comes after a jury found the province’s chief forensic pathologist unfairly assessed another doctor who was trying to get a job there.

Weighill has more than 40 years’ experience with the Saskatchewan justice system and was the police chief in Saskatoon for 11 years before announcing his retirement this fall.

In a news release, the province noted he is highly regarded for his focus on social determinants of crime and his relationship with First Nations.

The review will examine the mandate and performance of the coroner’s service and offer recommendations.

The scope of the review will include:

• High level interjurisdictional comparison of coroner and medical examiner models and best practices;
• Examination of mandate, structure and goals of the coroner’s model and office;
• Examination of roles and responsibilities of officials and staff;
• Examination of processes and adequacy of coroner investigations;
• Review of coroner inquest model, including structure and inquest recommendations;
• Examination of processes and adequacy of support elements such as laboratory services, transfer services and funeral home services;
• Review of relationships with police, prosecutions and health regions, including an assessment of best practice; and
• Review communications practices and information sharing with the public.
• Weighill will present his final report and recommendations to the minister for consideration by July 1, 2018.

The recommendations will be made available to the public.