Fredericton officer accused of misappropriation of funds won't face criminal probe

The New Brunswick Police Association says it will not be filing a criminal complaint about a Fredericton Police Force officer, accused of misappropriating funds from the association while a member of its executive committee.

"We had a meeting and we dealt with it internally, with the opinion of our lawyer," said Const. Dean Secord, president of the New Brunswick Police Association (NBPA).

Secord says the decision to not file a criminal complaint against the officer was taken after he paid an amount of money to the NBPA, which is a lobby group representing municipal and regional police unions.

The paid amount is not necessarily the amount allegedly misappropriated, he said.

"What I can tell you is that we have come to agreement on the amount, and from that agreement, and the opinion of the lawyer, that is the amount that was agreed upon," said Secord.

"From that, we are going to co-operate with the Police Act investigation, which has started, and we are going to move forward from that," he said.

The New Brunswick Police Commission (NBPC), a provincial oversight body, is currently investigating a conduct complaint filed by Fredericton Police Chief Leanne Fitch.

The accused officer is suspended with pay, pending the outcome of the investigation.

​The NBPC says possible sanctions against an officer it finds guilty of wrongdoing can range from a verbal reprimand to dismissal.

"Criminal charges require a criminal investigation from the police force of jurisdiction," said executive director Steve Roberge.

The RCMP "are not prepared to investigate without a formal complaint," he said.

Secord says the jurisdiction for any criminal investigation would rest with the RCMP because the officer lives outside the city of Fredericton.

Last year, Fredericton's former Transit Manager, Tony Hay, resigned after an internal review uncovered "small financial irregularities."

The City of Fredericton decided to withdraw criminal charges against the former employee, but Fredericton Police subsequently re-opened the case. 

In early June, Fredericton Police charged Hay with stealing and defrauding the city of an amount under $5,000.

Hay is scheduled to appear in provincial court on July 3.