Police commission to hear appeal from dismissed Moose Jaw officer

The Saskatchewan Police Commission will hear the appeal of a dismissed Moose Jaw Police Service officer.

Alan Murdock was a constable in Moose Jaw when he was dismissed on June 19, 2019, for alleged violations while on a 12-month disciplinary probation period.

The appeal is to be heard Aug. 31 by hearing officer Jay Watson at a location to be announced. The hearing is scheduled for three weeks.

According to the appeal ruling, Murdock was put on probation on May 22, 2019. He was dismissed because, on May 31, 2019, there were “multiple violations” of the Local Authority Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

It’s alleged Murdock was given direct orders from a superior officer as a means to contain breaches of privacy and he disobeyed those orders.

Further, the ruling says he was dismissed because he gave misleading, false and inaccurate statements to an interviewer during an internal investigation on June 19 regarding his misconduct.

At the heart of the appeal argument was the definition of a “probationary member” because those members cannot appeal dismissals.

Watson allowed the hearing to move forward, ruling that a probationary member means a new member on their initial probation period and not an officer who has already passed that period.

Shawn Slaght, Discover Moose Jaw