Appeal hearing continues over fired Regina police chief

A hearing is ongoing regarding the termination of former Regina police chief Farooq Sheikh. A key point of discussion involves flirtatious text messages exchanged between Sheikh and a member of the police board. Sheikh was dismissed in October 2025 following a Public Complaints Commission investigation into allegations of inappropriate behavior.

Regina Mayor Chad Bachynski, who sits on the police board, testified about the commissioners' conclusion that Sheikh's actions were inappropriate. He described receiving a "frantic" phone call from Sheikh in mid-March, where Sheikh referred to the relationship as "like a sister to me." Bachynski expressed feeling manipulated before the complaint was filed.

Additional texts show Sheikh sent messages to two board members in December 2024 during a private meeting discussing his contract. The complainant responded to these messages during the meeting, which Sheikh later admitted was an error. Sheikh acknowledged he did not disclose the messages to the board beforehand.

A recording from a Feb. 26, 2025 phone call between Sheikh and the complainant was played during the hearing. Sheikh asked if the call was being recorded and asked the complainant to delete their text messages due to potential misconceptions. When questioned about these actions, Bachynski testified that it demonstrated a lack of trust and accountability. Sheikh testified that the flirtatious messages were meant as "banter" but did not intend for them to escalate.