A former Osoyoos Mountie has had his conduct hearing delayed for a year now.
Cst. Amit Goyal’s first hearing was scheduled July 28, 2015 and has been postponed four times since.
Goyal has been suspended with pay since June 2013 over allegations of misconduct.
READ MORE: Osoyoos Mountie’s conduct hearing postponed for third time
Stephen Condon, a former Osoyoos resident who alleges he was harassed by the suspended police officer on multiple occasions, said the delays have been frustrating.
“It is a disgrace to the law. It is disgrace to our tax dollars,” he said.
Staff Sgt Julie Gagnon, a media relations officer with the national RCMP force, said she could not comment why the hearing was being delayed due to privacy reasons.
However, she said every effort is being made to schedule the hearings in a timely manner and similar to other court-like processes, the hearings can be delayed for various reasons.
When asked if Goyal has been getting wage increases over the last three years of his suspension, Gagnon could not provide comment on the specific case.
“A member who is suspended with pay would only receive an increase equivalent (step progression) to pay increments after meeting the conditions indicated in the RCMP’s ‘Annual Rates of Pay’. The step progression within the Constable rank is based on a promotional process and therefore, is not automatic except when reaching the final step,” she explained in an email.
Condon now lives in 100 Mile House and was prepared to stop work for the week to attend the hearing in Vancouver this month.
“I don’t know why they’re shying away from a disciplinary hearing,” he said. “I can’t move on with my life until this is over.”
Condon filed a lawsuit against B.C.’s Minister of Justice and Goyal on June 2, 2015. He claims Goyal framed him for stealing and burning two vehicles in 2012, and as a result, he was falsely arrested.
In a response to the civil claim on October 27, 2015, the two parties deny the claims, saying the RCMP officers were acting within their duties.
The allegations have not been proven in court.
Goyal’s latest conduct hearing is scheduled for September 13, 2016.