Judge Schedules Urgent Hearing for Fired Saskatoon Cops’ Appeal

UPDATE: A Saskatoon judge has set a crucial hearing date of January 23, 2026, for two former police officers seeking to reclaim their positions after being fired. The case involves constables Dylan Kemp and Jason Garland, who were dismissed on September 3, 2025, following an investigation into an off-duty house party.

The urgency of this situation escalates as their attorney, Steven Seiferling, failed to file the necessary appeal notice with the Saskatchewan Police Commission within the required timeframe. He is now seeking the intervention of a King’s Bench judge to compel the police commission to appoint a hearing officer for the case.

On December 9, Seiferling appeared before Justice Natasha Crooks alongside representatives from the province and Saskatoon police. During this session, Crooks adjourned the proceedings, allowing time for the police and the Ministry of Corrections and Public Safety to submit their briefs before the January hearing.

Seiferling’s oversight is significant; he submitted appeal notices to the Saskatoon Police Service and the police union on September 11, 2025, but neglected to address the commission, which is the designated authority for handling such appeals. “Through error of counsel, the appeals were not provided to the Commission on September 11, 2025,” Seiferling stated in his court filing.

This case not only impacts the careers of Kemp and Garland but also raises questions about the procedural integrity of the police oversight system. The outcome of the January hearing could set a precedent for how similar cases are managed in the future.

As the situation develops, all eyes will be on the January hearing, where the fate of the two officers hangs in the balance. Will they regain their positions, or will the procedural misstep cost them their careers permanently?

Stay tuned as we follow this evolving story and its implications for the Saskatoon police force and the broader community.