Officer charged with impaired driving

A senior RCMP officer has been charged with impaired driving in Canmore.

Staff Sgt. Brad Freer, a 22year member of the RCMP, was charged with impaired driving and having a bloodalcohol level over .08 stemming from an incident on March 14.

According to court documents, Freer, who lives in Canmore, was originally released on a promise to appear in Canmore provincial court on April 15.

However, an endorsement showed the date was moved up to Wednesday, a date brought forward by his defence lawyer to enter a plea and set an early trial date.

Freer, 53, was formerly the detachment commander for the Canmore RCMP but had recently transferred to the Airdrie-based southern Alberta District Office to work as a district advisory non- commissioned officer, or NCO, a supervisory role that oversees incidents in the field, said RCMP spokeswoman Cpl. Sharon Franks.

Following the charges, he remains at the office as an active member, “but he’s on administrative duties only,” Franks said.

Franks said the decision on his status within the RCMP was made by the Alberta RCMP commanding officer.

“Generally, it’s a case- bycase basis, based on public trust and on the offence itself,” she added.

She declined to comment on the charges and what would happen if he was convicted.

“We will wait to see what the court decides,” Franks said.

Defence lawyer Tim Foster declined to comment, saying in an email that the place to address “mere allegations” are in the courtroom and not in the media. He also stressed the allegations have not been proven in court.