SUBSCRIBE: Missing news on social media? Subscribe to CHAT News Today's DAILY newsletter and stay up to date with your city.

Officers speak at disciplinary hearing

Jun 14, 2017 | 4:39 PM

 

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Four members of the Medicine Hat Police Service are facing a disciplinary hearing after a complaint was made over officer conduct.

The officers were executing a search warrant back in 2012, looking for stolen property.

They knocked on Corey Maxwell’s door and stumbled upon what appeared to be a grow-op.

Police later found out that Maxwell had been issued a Health Canada licence to grow marijuana.

All of the charges against him were later withdrawn and a judge ordered police return all of Maxwell’s belongings.

Maxwell filed a formal complaint against the service for the way he was treated.

A number of complaints were made about the officers involved and what happened when they arrived at his home.

Those complaints were brought to Chief Andy McGrogan.

He went through each complaint, as he would with any complaint that’s brought forward.

McGrogan did act on some of the complaints but not all of them.

Maxwell wasn’t satisfied and brought his concerns to the Law Enforcement Review Board.

Acting Chief Brent Secondiak said the board will hear from each of the officers involved before deciding if any penalties need to be made.

“There is a process here with complaints against police officers and unfortunately it does take, I mean, its been five years since the incident occurred,” he said. “It does take a substantial amount of time. I think we’re just hoping that it’s dealt with here in due course.”

Secondiak said anybody from the public can come in and make a complaint about an officer.

He said it’s important these discussions happen to make sure police are doing their job and nothing more.

“Police officers have a substantial amount of power,” he said. “We’re actually allowed to take people, to detain them, take way their rights for a period of time. So it’s important that there’s oversight in everything that we do and this is just part of the process.”

Secondiak said the four officers involved are still active and are “very valuable members” of the service.

Thursday marks the fourth and final day of the hearing.

Once each officer has spoke to the board, the hearing officer will determine what needs to happen, if anything, with those involved.