The Serious Incident Response Team is pleased to present its Annual Report for the 2026-25 fiscal year.

This report highlights another busy and productive year for SiRT, showcasing the team’s commitment to training, community engagement, financials, and key statistics.

“This year, the SiRT team continued to demonstrate the professionalism, commitment, and integrity that define our work. I am proud of the way our team consistently rose to meet complex and challenging circumstances,” said Erin Nauss, SiRT Director. “As Director, I am confident in the year ahead and the progress we will continue to make towards building public confidence in the oversight of police in all communities of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.”

Throughout the 2025-26 fiscal year, SiRT received 155 notifications. A breakdown includes:

• 117 police notifications and 38 notifications from the public or other organizations
• 48 full investigations conducted: 26 in Nova Scotia, 21 in New Brunswick, 1 in PEI
• 42 review/preliminary investigations: 25 in Nova Scotia, 17 in New Brunswick
• 3 files where SiRT provided oversight of investigations led by other police agencies
• 62 notifications did not meet the SiRT mandate.
• 11 police officers were charged with one or more criminal offences
  • 6 in Nova Scotia and 5 in New Brunswick

The Annual Report can be found here: Annual-Report-2025-2026-6aa2b0eb8e52f.pdf .

SiRT is responsible for investigating all matters that involve death, serious injury, sexual assault and intimate partner violence or other matters of a public interest to be investigated that may have arisen from the actions of any police officer, on or off duty, in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Investigations are under the direction and control of an independent civilian director, who has the sole authority to determine if charges should be laid at the conclusion of an investigation.

La Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT), soit l’équipe d’intervention en cas d’incident grave, mène actuellement une enquête sur les circonstances entourant le décès d’un homme adulte survenu à Hardwicke, au Nouveau-Brunswick.

Les renseignements préliminaires portent à croire ce qui suit :

• Dans la nuit du 19 août 2026, la GRC a reçu un appel concernant des bruits suspects et des inquiétudes quant au bien-être d’un voisin dans une résidence de Hardwicke.

• La GRC ne s’est pas rendue au domicile cette nuit-là, mais a pris des dispositions pour que l’unité mobile d’intervention de crise de Miramichi s’y rende le lendemain matin.
• Le lendemain matin, l’unité mobile d’intervention de crise a demandé à des agents de la GRC de se joindre à elle pour intervenir. Alors qu’ils appuyaient l’unité mobile pour cette intervention, les agents de la GRC ont découvert le corps sans vie d’un homme adulte à l’intérieur du domicile.

La GRC a communiqué avec la SiRT le 21 août 2026, et une enquête a été ouverte.

La SiRT est chargée d’enquêter sur toutes les affaires qui concernent des décès, des blessures graves, des agressions sexuelles, de la violence entre partenaires intimes ou d’autres questions d’intérêt public ayant pu découler des actes d’agents de police, en service ou non, en Nouvelle-Écosse ou au Nouveau-Brunswick. Les enquêtes sont menées sous la direction et le contrôle d’une personne civile indépendante qui, au terme de son enquête, a l’autorité absolue de déterminer si des accusations doivent être portées ou non.

The Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) is investigating an altercation between an adult male and a member of the Cape Breton Regional Police (CBRP) that resulted in the hospitalization of the male.

Preliminary information suggests:

• On August 27, 2026, members of the CBRP were investigating a Robbery in North Sydney.
• During the arrest of one of the male suspects, a member of CBRP deployed his Conducted Energy Weapon (Taser) and OC Spray.
• Shortly after the interaction the male went into medical distress and was transported to hospital, where he was admitted due to his condition.

SiRT received a referral from CBRP the same night and an investigation started immediately.

SiRT is responsible for investigating all matters that involve death, serious injury, sexual assault and intimate partner violence or other matters of a public interest that may have arisen from the actions of a police officer, on or off duty, in Nova Scotia or New Brunswick. Investigations are under the direction and control of an independent civilian director, who has the sole authority to determine if charges should be laid at the conclusion of an investigation.

The Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) is investigating the discharge of a firearm by a member of the RCMP which resulted in the death of an adult male in Maltempec, New Brunswick.

On the night of August 26, 2026, SiRT was contacted by the RCMP regarding a police involved shooting. SiRT assumed responsibility for the investigation immediately and investigators attended the scene.
Preliminary information suggests:

• On the evening of August 26, 2026, members of the RCMP responded to a call at a residence in Maltempec regarding an adult male in crisis in possession of a firearm.
• The male fired at officers and an officer discharged their firearm, striking the male.
• The male was pronounced deceased at the scene.

SiRT is responsible for investigating all matters that involve death, serious injury, sexual assault and intimate partner violence or other matters of a public interest that may have arisen from the actions of any police officer, on or off duty, in Nova Scotia or New Brunswick. Investigations are under the direction and control of an independent civilian director, who has the sole authority to determine if charges should be laid at the conclusion of an investigation. To learn more visit: sirtnsnb.ca .