A familiar face in the province’s law enforcement sector is poised to take over as Saskatchewan’s Chief Coroner.
Clive Weighill, the former Saskatoon Chief of Police, will assume the role effective Sept. 15.
In addition to being the former chief of the Saskatoon Police, Weighill is also the former president of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. According to a press release, Weighill has more than 40 years of experience with Saskatchewan’s justice system. He has also been awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal, the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal, Commander of the order of Merit of Police Forces, Police Exemplary Service Medal and Bar and the Saskatchewan Protective Services Medal.
“Mr. Weighill has devoted his life to public service in our province. He has the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to lead and transform this important work into the future,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Don Morgan said in a press release.
“I am proud that we are able to attract someone with Mr. Weighill’s talent and abilities for the role of Chief Coroner.”
Weighill released a review of the office, which was facing allegations of racism and a lack of accountability, just two months ago.
According to CBC, the external review was launched after the province’s chief forensic pathologist, Dr. Shaun Ladham, was found by a judge to have unfairly assessed another doctor trying to get a job with the office. The lawsuit also alleged that Ladham made derogatory remarks about the bodies of Indigenous people.
Weighill’s review also found that toxicology result wait times were unacceptable, and that the office needed a plan to deal with mass casualties.
The office misidentified one of the players killed in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash.
Weighill will take over from acting chief coroner Dale Beck.
