Lorilee Davies to serve as new chief of Regina Police Service

Lorilee Davies becomes Regina’s first female police chief, taking over from Farooq Sheikh after nearly 30 years with the service. Donovan Maess reports.

Lorilee Davies will serve as the chief of the Regina Police Service (RPS) following the termination of Farooq Sheikh.

RPS made the announcement Thursday afternoon. Davies had been serving as the service’s acting chief since April 2025.

“It’s such a humbling day. I’m really overcome with emotion. I’ve been at Regina Police Service for almost 30 years. I love this organization. I love the people who work here, and it means a great deal for me to be entrusted with the leadership of this organization for this great community,” she told reporters.

“Things aren’t always easy but definitely committed to doing hard work that’s required.”

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Davies joined RPS in 1996. Throughout her 29-year career, she has worked in both uniform and investigative divisions. Her assignments have included everything from managing protests and labour disputes to providing oversight as a critical incident commander on emergency service calls.

Davies also developed the RPS Truth and Reconciliation strategy and has spent many years with the Regina Police Association.

She was also the first woman to serve in the role of deputy chief for RPS. Her appointment marks the first time in history a woman has become a chief of a police service in Saskatchewan, according to the City.

“This is a historic moment and a well-deserved promotion,” Regina Mayor Chad Bachynski said in his remarks.

Davies already has ideas concerning her first steps as the permanent head of the police service.

“First priority is budget in the next couple of weeks and getting that taken care of,” she laughed. “Then I think it’ll be sitting down with our leadership team, hearing from all of our employees in terms of where they think we need to go and where we need to have some additional work and then make plans from there.”

Next step after scandal

Davies takes over from former Chief Farooq Sheikh, who was terminated with cause after an investigation into alleged misconduct and inappropriate communications between Sheikh and a former member of the City’s board of police commissioners.

The investigation by the Public Complaints Commission found evidence that Sheikh acted in a manner that was “unbecoming” of a chief of police and was “dishonourable to the Regina Police Service.”

Sheikh’s termination was announced on Oct. 28, just over five weeks prior to Davies appointment.

Speaking to the speed of the hiring decision, Bachynski told reporters that Davies was the obvious choice.

“I would say Chief Davies’ credentials speak for themselves. The board had a very great conversation about what those next steps could [and] should look like. Ultimately, I think the decision became pretty obvious pretty quick,” he explained.

“In the desire to create stability for an organization, to draw on experience, to draw on the trust from community. Chief Davies’ name came out over and over again as an obvious choice, and so that’s why we’re here today.”

Davies will serve in the role on a five-year contract. The mayor added that Davies’ appointment represents a turning point after a turbulent year.

“I would say it’s been an interesting, bit of a bumpy year for sure, and absolutely, I think this is a positive turning point for our organization, for RPS, and I believe there [are] bright days ahead,” he added.

A mentor and a friend

When asked who she’s looked up to during her time with RPS, Davies highlighted former chief Evan Bray.

“When he left this building on his last day, he said, ‘Take care of our family,’” she recalled.

“I think it’s people first, and that’s really always been important to him, and it’s important to me.”

Bray and Davies have known each other for more than 30 years, spending time in media throughout Western Canada before both joined the service.

“I was tearing up sitting there,” Bray said watching his friend be announced as the next chief. “I’m just really excited for her, I’m excited for the service.”

“Having her two daughters looking up, not just at their mother, but as a role model in this city,” he added.

Bray served with RPS for 28 years, becoming chief in 2016, a role he served in until his retirement in 2023.

He says a police chief has some distinct qualities, ones which Davies has.

“People in the organization need to feel like they’re valued by a chief and need to feel like the chief understands their challenges,” Bray said. “This service is behind Lorilee and I have all the confidence in the world in her”

Bray, too, agrees Davies is the right person to lead the service as it turns the page.

“We all are looking for bright spots in this world, whether it’s for the community or it’s for an organization.” he said. “This is a piece of positivity that is nothing but good and the police service often deals with issues that are that are really complicated.”

“Having a person like Lorilee who’s a positive leader, who is going to bring an energy and a culture to this organization, that is going to enhance wellness overall in this community is nothing but positive,” Bray added.

Davies will be formally sworn in to her new, permanent role early in the new year.

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