Mike Worden is suing the City of Medicine Hat. (CHAT News)

By Eli J. Ridder | @EliRidder

DEVELOPING

Ex-police chief files $1.85M lawsuit against City of Medicine Hat, police chief, former employees

Mar 20, 2024 | 4:47 PM

Former police chief Mike Worden plans to sue the City of Medicine Hat, the police service and several former employees for a combined $1.85 million, according to court documents viewed by CHAT News on Thursday.

Beyond the city and the current police chief, the statement of claim names three who worked at the police service during his tenure and an individual he had a relationship with during the second half of 2021.

Worden left his police chief role in May 2022 after Global News Calgary reported he had an extra-marital affair and asked the woman to delete references to the relationship she posted to social media.

A Medicine Hat Police Commission investigation did not find there was any wrongdoing an a “non-workplace misconduct” complaint, but not reveal any further details.

The statement of claim filed by Worden gives him several months to actually serve the lawsuit to the defendants.

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Police Chief Alan Murphy told CHAT News during a public police commission meeting Wednesday evening that he only heard of the statement of claim through the media.

Resignation for ‘personal’ reasons

Worden on May 23 notified the police commission of his intention to resign as chief of police due to personal reasons.

“After great consideration, I have made the difficult decision to retire as chief of police for personal and family reasons,” he wrote in a statement.

Worden was hired as the replacement for his predecessor Andy McGrogan, who is now a city councillor. Current chief Alan Murphy is his successor.

Worden came to the chief role after spending 25 years working at the Calgary Police Service, rising there to the rank of superintendent.

This is a breaking news story. More details to follow.