The Chronicle Herald (Provincial)
Saskatchewan RCMP officer charged with first-degree murder
PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. — Prince Albert city police charged a Prince Albert RCMP officer with first-degree murder in the death of 26-year-old Braden Herman on Wednesday.
City police had previously arrested 53-year-old Bernie Herman, a 32-year member of the RCMP who worked in the traffic services unit, in Braden Herman’s homicide. Although they were known to each other and have the same last name, they are not related, according to a city police news release.
Someone called police to report a dead man in a wooded area of the city “in the early evening” on Tuesday, police said in a news release. They said Bernie Herman was not on duty at the time.
In addition to the wooded area, city police also secured a vehicle and a home in connection with the investigation.
Braden Herman’s brother, Brett, said he learned at 1:30 a.m. that his younger brother had died. He had his older brother stay with him, and they were still together when Brett spoke to Postmedia News Wednesday evening.
The loss hadn’t yet hit him, but he knows it will and he has a good support system and loving family, Brett said.
“I’ve never had to endure anything like this before, like with the media and all of this. But I’m just trying to be strong.”
He said Braden enjoyed being active, enjoyed the outdoors and was a good and bright kid.
Braden had not been doing well since their other brother died in 2015, but he was close to their late brother’s son, he added.
“He really loves his nephew, it was almost like his boy, his kid.”
Brett said he was “familiar with” Bernie Herman, but did not know him personally. He said Braden had stayed with the officer for a time.
Prince Albert police have requested an independent observer to oversee the investigation.
The Saskatchewan RCMP said in a statement that contraventions to its code of conduct are taken seriously and a modification to the member’s duty status is currently being processed.
Bernie Herman is expected to make his first appearance at Prince Albert provincial court on Thursday.
An autopsy was scheduled for Thursday in Saskatoon.