Disclosure of wrongdoing under the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act (PSDPA) 2025-2026
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1. Description of wrongdoing
The RCMP Senior Officer for Internal Disclosure (SOID) received on December 6, 2022, a disclosure alleging wrongdoing under paragraph 8(e) of the PSDPA, a serious breach of a code of conduct.
The SOID ordered an RCMP Code of Conduct investigation, following which it was determined a wrongdoing had occurred. Specifically, a senior police officer conducted an unlawful search at a residence and, during that search, an Indigenous person was denied their right to know the reason for their arrest and their right to instruct counsel. Further to this unlawful search, seized property was not properly accounted for.
The actions of the senior police officer undermined the integrity of the RCMP and breached the trust of the Indigenous community.
Conclusions
A serious breach of a code of conduct established under section 5 or 6 of the PSDPA.
Recommendations and corrective measures
The senior police officer submitted their resignation before the investigation could be concluded.
Although a finding of a breach of the Code of Conduct was made on one of the allegations, no conduct measures and/or corrective measures could be administered due to the resignation of the senior police officer.
However, as required by policy, a Record of Decision was placed on the senior police officer's file, along with a recommendation of non-re-employment.
2. Description of wrongdoing
On September 20, 2024, the RCMP Senior Officer for Internal Disclosure (SOID) received a disclosure of wrongdoing under the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act (PSDPA) alleging wrongdoing under section 8(e), a serious breach of a Code of Conduct.
A Code of Conduct investigation was conducted under the authority of the RCMP Act which resulted in a finding that the Wrongdoer had breached the RCMP Code of Conduct. Specifically, that a senior Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) neglected their duty by failing to follow up with a client and to advise their manager of the allegations of inappropriate actions of a municipal employee. This resulted in the client not receiving the required support as a victim of crime. Furthermore, the unaddressed actions of the municipal employee were hurtful to the client and caused the client to feel uncomfortable in coming forward again for assistance. Although, the Wrongdoer did not have supervisory responsibility over the municipal employee who worked at the detachment, the Wrongdoer had a duty to report.
Furthermore, the Wrongdoer, who was a close friend of the municipal employee, was in a conflict of interest when they failed to report the municipal employee's behaviour to the municipal supervisor according to the established process.
The actions of the NCO undermined the integrity of the RCMP, breached the trust of the client and the confidence of other members within the detachment. The actions of the Wrongdoer were a deliberate neglect of duty based on a conflict of interest.
Findings and conclusions
A serious breach of a code of conduct was established under section 5 or 6.
Recommendations and corrective measures
The RCMP Code of Conduct process resulted in serious disciplinary measures being applied to the Wrongdoer. No further action is required.
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