West Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 top cop is involved in an RCMP apology 乌鸦传媒� several years in the making.
Nearly six years after the former administration manager of the White Rock RCMP was banned from the premises of the Pacific Avenue detachment for alleged breaches of procedure, policy and security, B.C.乌鸦传媒檚 top cop has apologized for the actions of the RCMP.
Including the actions of Staff Sgt. Lesli Roseberry, who took over the West Kelowna detachment in April 2016.
In a statement couriered to our sister paper, the Peace Arch News, E Division Deputy Cmsr. Craig Callens describes allegations made in an RCMP document that was provided to the City of White Rock in 2011 regarding the conduct of then-city-employee Jordan Murray-Wahl as 乌鸦传媒渦nfounded.乌鸦传媒�
乌鸦传媒淥n behalf of the Royal Canadian Mountain (sic) Police, I offer my sincere apology to Ms. Murray-Wahl for any damage to her reputation or any stress, anxiety or loss of income or reputation that she has suffered as a result of the actions of the RCMP prior to and following the provision of the document to the City of White Rock,乌鸦传媒� Callens states.
Wednesday, Murray-Wahl乌鸦传媒檚 lawyer Kevin Woodall confirmed the apology was part of settlement discussions that made trial 乌鸦传媒� which had been scheduled to get underway Feb. 14 乌鸦传媒� unnecessary.
He said that Callens delivering a face-to-face apology to Murray-Wahl also 乌鸦传媒渇ully renewed乌鸦传媒� his client乌鸦传媒檚 confidence in the RCMP.
乌鸦传媒淗er faith in the organization was shattered to the core by what happened to her in 2011,乌鸦传媒� Woodall said, noting the apology 乌鸦传媒渇irmly set aside乌鸦传媒� any doubts Murray-Wahl had with regard to the Mounties乌鸦传媒� willingness to acknowledge the wrongdoing.
乌鸦传媒淪he is pleased that the allegations that were made against her and that were in part published in your story乌鸦传媒� have been definitively laid to rest.乌鸦传媒�
Peace Arch News that the city had received word from then-detachment commander Staff Sgt. Lesli Roseberry on April 7 of that year advising that in the view of the RCMP, Murray-Wahl had been 乌鸦传媒渄eemed unsuitable to continue work at the detachment,乌鸦传媒� and would not be allowed to enter the premises.
The decision 乌鸦传媒� detailed in a document Callens notes was 乌鸦传媒渋ntended to remain confidential乌鸦传媒� 乌鸦传媒� followed an RCMP investigation that began in December 2010 and allegedly identified breaches dating back to at least April of that year.
In his statement dated Feb. 6, Callens said the RCMP document 乌鸦传媒渃ontained language that could lead the reader to draw negative conclusions about Ms. Murray-Wahl and her character.乌鸦传媒�
乌鸦传媒淯pon further investigation, the RCMP has determined that the allegations contained in the document were unfounded and constitute an unfair and inaccurate portrayal of Ms. Murray-Wahl. Throughout her tenure at the White Rock Detachment she conducted herself professionally and with integrity.乌鸦传媒�
Murray-Wahl, 52, filed a civil suit in April 2013, seeking general, special, aggravated and punitive damages in connection with the matter, which she said resulted in the termination of her position with the city in September 2011.
The notice of claim, finalized last Dec. 5, names Roseberry, Callens, Chief Supt. Janice Armstrong, Assistant Cmsr. Norman Lipinski and the attorneys general of B.C. and Canada.
Among other things, it alleged Roseberry, Armstrong, Lipinski and Callens breached their public duties, resulting in Murray-Wahl乌鸦传媒檚 loss of employment, loss of security clearance, loss of reputation and loss of career, as well as prolonged stress and anguish.
Roseberry, it states, launched an investigation into Murray-Wahl based on unreliable information and without lawful authority. Murray-Wahl乌鸦传媒檚 乌鸦传媒渞ight to a fair process was subverted by Roseberry乌鸦传媒檚 deliberate abuse of her powers as a public officer,乌鸦传媒� the claim states.
As well, it alleges Roseberry intended for the document in question to be leaked, or failed to secure it, and as a result it was provided to the Peace Arch News.
A response to the civil claim filed in April 2014 and amended last August states Roseberry acted within her authority, and denies 乌鸦传媒渢hat any action on the part of the defendants乌鸦传媒� constitute dishonesty, gross negligence or malicious or willful misconduct.乌鸦传媒�
乌鸦传媒淭he defendants say that any actions taken by them or any RCMP member were taken in good faith and within the course and scope of their duties as RCMP members and provincial constables.乌鸦传媒�
Neither Callens nor Roseberry, who took the helm of the West Kelowna RCMP detachment last year, responded to Peace Arch News乌鸦传媒檚 request for comment by press time.
In a letter to Peace Arch News that accompanied the released statement, Callens writes that he wants to 乌鸦传媒渟et the record straight.乌鸦传媒�
A reference letter included with the package aims 乌鸦传媒渢o counteract any possible negative conclusions and inform the reader that Ms. Murray-Wahl is a hard-working, dedicated employee who the RCMP is prepared to have working within the organization.乌鸦传媒�
Woodall said his client乌鸦传媒檚 settlement included 乌鸦传媒渇air and substantial乌鸦传媒� financial compensation. (The court documents also note that Murray-Wahl received damages from the city in connection with her termination.)
Woodall added that Callens was also 乌鸦传媒渧ery generous乌鸦传媒� in assisting Murray-Wahl in applying for a position with the Surrey RCMP 乌鸦传媒� a job she was awarded.
He said that while the case sets no legal precedents due to it being settled out of court, it provides 乌鸦传媒渁 tangible sign to the commitment of the RCMP乌鸦传媒� regarding preventing and redressing harassment and bullying claims.
乌鸦传媒淭his result is an illustration of the RCMP乌鸦传媒檚 renewed commitment to its anti-harassment and bullying policy,乌鸦传媒� Woodall said.
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