Assault, shoplifting alleged

Sources: Off-duty Halifax cop wore wig, had gun when arrested at Superstore

An off-duty Halifax Regional Police officer arrested for shoplifting two weeks ago was allegedly wearing a wig and had her service revolver in her purse, The Chronicle Herald has learned.

Sources say the officer was Const. Jennifer McPhee, 42, a 17-year member of the force.

McPhee was arrested on the afternoon of Sept. 13 at the Bayers Lake Atlantic Superstore in Halifax.

She was released from custody that night after being given an appearance notice for court.

Contacted Wednesday, regional police spokesman Const. John MacLeod said the officer’s name will not be released until charges are sworn at the provincial courthouse.

MacLeod said the incident is being investigated by regional police and he did not know what charges will be laid. He said the officer remains suspended with pay.

McPhee had most recently been working as the community response officer for the Spring Garden Road area of Halifax.

In February 2012, McPhee was charged with impaired driving after an employee at a Halifax drugstore reported her to police. McPhee pleaded guilty to having a blood alcohol reading above the legal limit of .08 and received a curative discharge with 18 months’

probation in May 2013.

To grant a conditional discharge for curative reasons, the judge must be satisfied that the offender has a serious alcohol or drug problem and that there is a reasonable chance of rehabilitation through treatment. The judge also has to be convinced that the discharge would not be contrary to the public interest.

The offender is placed on probation with conditions that they take part in a treatment program and abstain from consuming alcohol or drugs. If they successfully complete the probation, they won’t have a criminal conviction.

Another off-duty regional police officer was arrested Sept. 18 after a woman came home to discover an unwanted person in her residence.

Det. Const. Joseph Farrow, 51, a 23-year member of the force, is charged with unlawfully entering a dwelling house and sexual assault, for allegedly inappropriately touching the woman.

The province’s Serious Incident Response Team filed the charges Sept. 19, saying the officer and the alleged victim knew each other.

The Herald learned Wednesday that the woman, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, is also a police officer.

The incident happened in the Halifax area. The newspaper is not reporting which police force the complainant is with.

Farrow was not injured in the encounter but was taken to the Halifax Infirmary the next morning while still in custody and admitted for observation.

He was arraigned at the hospital later that day and released on a $500 recognizance, with conditions requiring him to have no contact with the complainant or members of her family and to stay away from her residence.

Farrow is prohibited from having any weapons and from possessing or consuming alcohol or drugs. His bail order says that, upon his release from hospital, he must report to regional police in person or by phone every Monday and Friday.

The force announced last week that Farrow has also been suspended with pay. His charges will be back in court in November.