Regina Police Service Responds to Privacy Commissioner's Recommendations
The Regina Police Service (RPS) has formally responded to recommendations from Saskatchewan's Information and Privacy Commissioner following concerning cases of unauthorized database access by officers. Chief Lorilee Davies announced that the police force has accepted all but one of the commissioner's recommendations from a December 2025 report addressing privacy breaches within the department.
Chief Davies Addresses Media Following Sentencing
Chief Davies spoke to media on Friday following the sentencing of former sergeant Robert Semenchuck, a 53-year-old officer who used internal police databases to access private information about women he then pursued relationships with using a false identity. "When someone breaches our privacy policies, disregards their oath of office, bypasses all of our training and security measures we have in place in such an egregious manner, it calls into question the ethics and accountability of all of our members," Davies stated regarding Semenchuck's actions.
Separate Case Involving Constable Clinton Duquette
The privacy commissioner's report focused on a different incident involving Constable Clinton Duquette, who inappropriately accessed personal information of six Regina citizens 67 times between 2021 and 2023. According to the report, affected individuals included Duquette's former partner, that partner's sibling, the partner's previous partner, and other individuals. The commissioner noted the decision to name Duquette in the report was due to the "public interest aspect of this privacy breach" and expressed concern about the "scope and breadth" of the unauthorized access.
Disciplinary Actions and Training Requirements
Duquette received a one-day suspension without pay and participated in mandatory training on ethics, accountability, access, and privacy protocols. The RPS maintains that this disciplinary action has been finalized and cannot be revisited, despite the privacy commissioner's subsequent recommendations.
Key Recommendation Rejected by Police Chief
Among the commissioner's recommendations was that the RPS permanently revoke Duquette's access to the Integrated Electronic Information System (IEIS) database. Chief Davies explicitly rejected this recommendation, stating: "I respectfully disagree with this recommendation on the basis that permanent revocation of access to IEIS would effectively prevent an employee from performing their core duties, and that would amount to dismissal. The decision on discipline on that case has already been made and cannot be revisited."
Zero Tolerance Policy Clarification
The privacy commissioner also recommended that the RPS "commit to a policy of zero tolerance for unauthorized breaches of personal information." Chief Davies responded that she believes the force already maintains a zero tolerance policy, but clarified that this does not mean "a fixed disciplinary response to every instance of inappropriate access to information."
Commitment to Public Confidence
Chief Davies emphasized the police service's commitment to restoring and maintaining public confidence following these privacy breaches. The Regina Police Service continues to implement enhanced training and security measures to prevent future unauthorized access to sensitive information within their databases.
