Saskatoon Police Engage in Risqué Conduct Without Risk
Officers Shielded by Police Chief Clive Weighill
In December 2008 the CBC reported that a handful of police officers in Saskatoon were having sex with each other at the police station during work hours. Police spokesperson Alyson Edwards says those involved have been disciplined. A total of six officers were penalized – five men and one woman. Two members have resigned, three members were suspended without pay and one member was demoted. Saskatoon Police Chief Clive Weighill refused to name the officers.
Cadets at a police academy absorb highly disciplined training. This becomes second nature. Therefore, when a group of 6 seasoned officers suddenly abandon their standards and do "IT" on the job, this suggests an external influence – namely a drug which lowers the social inhibitions and elevates the libido. A possible contender is a drug which puts the adrenal gland into overdrive. If a drug is the cause, the effects would linger for hours and could not help but impair the officers' judgement through the remainder of their shift. This indeed puts the public at risk.
Police officers are held to a higher standard because they hold a position of trust in society. For example, R. v. Bracken 2005 SKPC CanLII 64 describes Saskatoon Police Sgt. James Bracken who while on duty groomed and molested a vulnerable underage girl. Sgt. Bracken was sentenced to nine months in jail. The judge wrote:
"A distinction must be drawn between an officer who commits an illegal act while conducting his duties as a police officer and an officer who is not exercising his authority at the time of the offence. Breach of authority justifies a more serious sanction. Sentencing is proportionate to the gravity of the offence, and the need to denounce conduct of this kind and deter others from engaging in similar conduct if so disposed.""Victims of sexual assault need support and assurance to come forward with complaints to the police. This serves the public interest. Predators might never be prosecuted were it not for the courage of a victim to tell persons in authority. When victims come forward, the public expects peace officers to maintain professional standards and create appropriate relationships when investigating complaints. When these duties are breached, as they were here in a shameful fashion, reassurance is required that this is unacceptable conduct as a matter of criminal procedure and law."
Assault victims are fragile, and deserve to file their complaint with zero risk of being victimized a second time by the officer investigating the case. The aim is to maintain public confidence in the administration of justice. A historical point: During the birth of democracy in Athens, Greece circa 450 BC, the philosopher Sophocles wrote:
“Nobody has a more sacred obligation to obey the law than those who make the law.”
Saskatoon Police Chief Clive Weighill covered up the scandal, even though it occurred on the premised of the main police building. On NewsTalk 650 CKOM, in the broadcast Is That Good Enough?, Tammy Robert said:
Allegations arose of officers engaging in sexual activity while on duty - as many as six officers. As the debate heated up on the show this morning, Saskatoon Police Chief Clive Weighill called in and asked to be put on the air. He said the public should give the Saskatoon Police Service "the benefit of the doubt" and "a little bit of slack". About what, exactly? Don't ask, because he's "taken care of business" and the Police Service is "moving on".Weighill reiterated privacy issues, indicating that if he gave any details at all, it wouldn't be difficult to figure out who he was talking about. The city of Saskatoon isn't all that big, after all. But this fuels the view that the Police Service has something to hide, and taints the character of the force as a whole - a force that has battled issues with public image and internal strife for much too long.The names of the former and current officers in question are not an issue. Details are not necessary. What the public does deserve to know is what management – Police Chief Clive Weighill and Mayor Don Atchison for starters – are planning to do to: 1) address why and how "It" was allowed to go on; 2) reassure the public that while these officers were busy not doing their job (aka It), the public's safety wasn't being jeopardized; and 3) ensure It never happens again.
