Complaints against police up in latest numbers from Manitoba Law Enforcement Review Agency

Complaints are up in the latest numbers released by Manitoba's Law Enforcement Review Agency, a provincial body that deals with officers' professional conduct in the field.

Numbers released Wednesday show LERA received 138 complaints in 2014, up from 117 the year before.

LERA doesn't investigate criminal matters or service complaints, but instead independently investigates complaints about how officers behave when on duty.

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The most common complaint was about use of unnecessary violence or excessive force. The second highest was being discourteous or uncivil.

The time to investigate the complaints did shrink in 2014 to six months. In 2013, it took LERA eight months to solve a single complaint.

2015 numbers are not yet available.

The formal complaints made in 2014 included the following allegations:

• breaches of The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
• making an arrest without reasonable or probable grounds
• using unnecessary violence or excessive force
• using oppressive or abusive conduct or language
• being discourteous or uncivil
• discrimination
• making false statement
• improperly disclosing information
• damaging property or failing to report damage
• failing to provide assistance

Complaints can be referred to a provincial judge for a hearing or an informal mediation process.

Meanwhile, theIndependent InvestigationUnit of Manitoba is tasked with handling criminal and service issues with police forces in the province.