P.A. police union, administration meet over `unauthorized' social media posts
The Prince Albert Police Association and the Prince Albert Police Service administration have met after “unauthorized” social media posts to the force's channels alleged “ongoing and persistent” harassment of the outgoing chief of police led to the removal of a video thanking him for his service.
Police association president Const. Nolan Carter confirmed Wednesday that a meeting took place between the union and the police executive.
“It went very well with administration and we are committed to working together for a better future (for) the Prince Albert Police Service,” he wrote in a message to the Starphoenix.
The police force issued a statement to media on Wednesday afternoon saying that after the removal of the farewell video from its platforms, there were posts and comments made that were not authorized by the force.
“These posts and comments reflected personal opinion and have since been removed,” the statement said.
It also confirmed that the police force's media coordinator has since resigned.
The posts made harassment allegations against “members both within and outside our organization,” the statement said.
Chief Jonathan Bergen announced his retirement last Thursday, hours after the provincial Public Complaints Commission released a blistering report about the response of two Prince Albert police officers to a domestic violence call for service from Kyla Frenchman before the death of her son, 13-month-old Tanner Brass.
Two officers who initially responded to the call were found by the PCC to have neglected their duty by “failing to conduct a proper investigation of a domestic violence situation despite the presence of a vulnerable and unprotected infant.”
The findings were turned over to Bergen to determine the appropriate discipline.
Bergen, in a statement last week announcing his retirement, referenced “escalating criticism and personal attack from a specific core of current and past members,” who opposed his decision to seek an external investigation into the police response to Frenchman's domestic violence call on Feb. 10, 2022, and to suspend the two responding officers pending the conclusion of the PCC review.
Bergen said he will leave the responsibilities under the PCC report to be handled by a new police chief. His retirement will be effective May 31.
The now-former media co-ordinator, Charlene Tebbutt, said on her own Twitter feed that she took the video down and was “having a very hard time understanding the behaviour that is happening within our organization.
“Baseless anonymous attacks are cowardly and don't help our community or those we are supposed to serve,” she wrote.
By Tuesday morning, the police social media posts and Tebbutt's Twitter account had been deleted.
Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers president Casey Ward said the organization, which represents police associations in the province, would never condone any harassing behaviour.
In response to a tweet from the police force's account alleging harassment, the federation had called for a stop to “trying to further divide the executive and the membership.”
In an interview, Ward said, “I've been monitoring the comments on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and didn't see anything from any members on there.”
He noted a police officer who posts harassing comments could be subject to discipline, adding that he'd be surprised if a member would post something like this publicly.
Ward and other federation representatives plan to visit Prince Albert this week. He said he spoke with Carter about the meeting with the administration and they're waiting for an announcement naming the interim chief of police and the results of a provincial inquiry into the force.
“We're all looking at those as positive steps forward, to just getting back to how the service should be run,” Ward said.
Prince Albert police board chair Janet Carriere said the board is sorry to see Bergen go, but he felt, and the board agreed, that it was time for a change.
“We look forward to moving forward in a positive way,” she said in an interview, adding that the board hopes to announce an interim chief next week, then begin the process of looking for a permanent chief.
In an email, Saskatoon police said they're discussing the logistics of a planned secondment of a senior executive officer to serve as Prince Albert's interim chief.
UNION RESPONSE TO THE FINDINGS
The PCC found Tanner Brass was vulnerable and in danger while he was in the home with his father, Kaij Brass, the two officers should have entered the home to ensure his safety.
Brass is charged with second-degree murder. His King 's Bench trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 26, 2024.
In a prepared statement, Carter said the association trusts the process of the third party, and though this takes time, “a thorough independent investigation is what is needed in these incidents.
“The Association also supports the officers that are currently off and dealing with this tragic incident. This incident has taken a huge toll on these members' mental health and their families,” Carter wrote.
The force's operations were the subject of an independent review by former Edmonton police chief Rod Knecht. The special inquiry's final report is expected to be released in the coming weeks.
The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and the Prince Albert Grand Council called on the province to intervene after the deaths of three men in Prince Albert police custody in the fall of 2021, which are also under review.
The Saskatoon Serious Incident Response Team is also investigating the fatal shooting of 34-year-old John Gardiner in January by Prince Albert police, and the arrest of 40-year-old Boden Umpherville in April by Prince Albert police that left him with serious injuries. Umpherville later died in hospital.