The Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) fired officer Alan Murdock a year ago, alleging a list of offences that a police misconduct expert calls the most extensive he’s ever seen in this country. Murdock, a 29-year veteran of the MJPS, disputes some of the allegations and is appealing the dismissal.
The Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) fired officer Alan Murdock a year ago, alleging a list of offences that a police misconduct expert calls the most extensive he’s ever seen in this country.
Murdock, a 29-year veteran of the MJPS, is appealing the dismissal.
In a six-page document filed with the Saskatchewan Police Commission, MJPS Chief Rick Bourassa lays out 25 allegations which include assaults, attempted fraud, inappropriate behaviour with a minor, habitually providing misleading information, unsafe storage of firearms and inappropriate physical contact with a female co-worker.
Murdock, who held the rank of constable when he was fired, declined to be interviewed for this story, but in a brief phone conversation he told CBC News the allegations were “false.” In Murdock’s appeal application he says the chief’s decision to fire him was “excessive, unwarranted, unnecessary and inappropriate.”
Taylor Elder, the president of the Moose Jaw Police Association, said the union paid for independent legal counsel to review Murdock’s dismissal.
“After thoughtful review and consultation with legal counsel, our members chose not to support Mr. Murdock in his appeal to be reinstated,” Elder said via email.
Murdock does not have a lawyer. He is representing himself.
The case will be argued during a three-week hearing at the end of August.
‘Why wasn’t he fired many years ago?’
Tom Engel, a prominent Edmonton lawyer who specializes in police accountability issues, has reviewed the chief’s allegations and Murdock’s reply.
He said that by Canadian standards, this situation is extraordinary due to the quantity and scope of the allegations and the almost 30-year time frame.
“I don’t know if I’d be able to remember a case as serious as this in Canada,” Engel said.
He said that no matter where the truth lies in this dispute, it’s not likely to end well for the MJPS.
If Murdock is found to be in the right and many of the allegations against him were trumped-up or embellished, Engel said, the tables could be turned on Bourassa.
“If these things are false and the chief knows it, he could be fired under the Police [Services] Act and could even be criminally charged with obstruction of justice,” said Engel.
On the other hand, Engel said, if the allegations dating back years are proven, the obvious question is why the MJPS is just raising them now.
“I’m sure any citizen of Moose Jaw would have this question too,” Engel said.
“Why wasn’t he fired many years ago?”
The alleged offences are said to have occurred under the watch of three chiefs.
Terry Coleman was chief from 1997 until 2007, when he was appointed Deputy Minister of Corrections, Public Safety and Policing in the newly formed Saskatchewan Party government.
He told CBC News that he thinks he handled the discipline of Murdock in an appropriate manner. Although the list of allegations has not been tested before the hearing officer, Coleman says based on Bourassa’s claims alone, “I think I would have taken steps to dismiss him much earlier than what they did.”
Dale Larsen was chief of the MJPS from 2007 until 2013, when he was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister of Justice, Corrections and Policing. He is now Deputy Minister of Corrections and Policing.
A government spokesperson said via email it would be inappropriate for Larsen to comment.
Why no criminal charges?
According to a provincial court official, who conducted a search back to the early 1990s, it does not appear Murdock has been charged with any crime.
Engel wondered how that could be given all the allegations by the chief and the MJPS.
He said many of the chief’s claims — such as assaults, theft, obstruction of justice, unsafe storage of a firearm and attempted fraud — would likely result in criminal charges if they were alleged against an ordinary citizen.
“If they believe [the order of dismissal] to be true, that means in many of these instances they have reasonable grounds to believe that criminal offences were committed,” Engel said.
“Why didn’t you charge this officer criminally?”
CBC News put that question to Bourassa.
“We are continuing to investigate,” he said. “I can’t go any further than that because we just don’t, never really speak about ongoing investigations.”
‘Untrue information’ in reports: chief
Engel said one allegation stands out as especially troubling, if true.
In his order of dismissal, the chief tells Murdock: “You entered untrue information into your reports regarding incidents that you were involved in.”
When CBC News pressed the chief about what sorts of incidents he was referring to, he said they were “in response to calls for service,” though he wouldn’t provide any further details or examples.