Officer’s dodge from discipline raises questions

REGINA – The case of a Regina police inspector who avoided any disciplinary action by quitting the force prior to a public hearing is raising questions about why police officers aren’t held to the same standard as in other professions.

Last year, a Regina mom challenged the financial transparency of the Optimist Dolphins Swim Club. Andrea MacMurray sent an anonymous fax from the Cornwall Centre but said the swim club somehow found out it was her.

“I was absolutely stunned when they told me they saw surveillance from the Cornwall Mall. I was in utter disbelief to be honest with you. The first thing comes to mind, how did you get that?” told MacMurray to Global News in April.

MacMurrary filed a complaint and an investigation was launched into the conduct of Regina police inspector Robert Dean.

“We investigated and we found that the complaint was valid and that there had been misconduct,” said Bob Mitchell, chair of the Public Complaints Commission. “Inspector (Robert) Dean had to have known better.”

A hearing was set for July 4 but Dean retired just days prior.

In his 10 years as chair of the Public Complaints Commission, Mitchell said there’s been at least a dozen instances where officers have retired prior to being disciplined for misconduct in Saskatchewan.

“Ultimately, if someone has committed a serious offence, an allegation, and if they choose to retire, there’s not much more you can do through discipline,” said Regina Police Chief Troy Hagen.

Some professions in Saskatchewan can be on the hook for violating industry standards for up to two years after retirement; however, police officers are not included.

“Because there’s no professional organization responsible for any extra employment discipline matters then there’s no need to have them included,” said Saskatchewan Justice Minister Gordon Wyant.

Both Hagen and Wyant said they are open to having a conversation about whether retired members should be held accountable.