Steve Lillebuen, Edmonton, Alberta (Canwest News Service) – A Mountie has been stripped of three days pay and urged to enrol in anger-management classes after an internal disciplinary hearing into charges of disgraceful conduct.
RCMP Const. Gord Kroeker was found guilty Thursday of conduct unbecoming of an officer in an April 1, 2006, incident outside a pub called the Beer Hunter in St. Albert, Alta., outside Edmonton.
Kroeker, then working out of nearby Sherwood Park, was off duty with friends in the bar when he approached St. Albert officers investigating a robbery complaint.
A waitress Kroeker knew had been robbed and beaten by three girls in the bathroom.
While Kroeker maintains that his only intention was to assist the less experienced officers, Const. Yannick Hamel testified he faced abusive language from Kroeker and was put down for being French.
A three-member RCMP panel agreed Thursday there was conflicting testimony on critical points, but backed the St. Albert officer’s perception that Kroeker’s approach would have been seen as intimidating.
“Repeatedly yelling and swearing (is) disgraceful,” panel chairman RCMP Supt. John Reid ruled Thursday. “The disgraceful conduct brings discredit to the force.”
The public expects RCMP officers to be held to a higher standard of conduct, he said.
Panel members agreed with a joint submission between Kroeker’s lawyer and the RCMP’s representative that docking three days of pay and recommending ongoing counselling for the officer was an adequate punishment.
Kroeker has faced previous disciplinary actions for anger issues in two separate incidents that occurred four years ago.
Since the St. Albert bar incident, the 18-year veteran of the force has been off active duty for medical reasons.
Speaking outside of the hearing, Kroeker said he feels unfairly targeted. The RCMP has spent two years investigating his conduct, but the initial robbery complaint still remains unsolved, with no charges laid.
“They focused all their attention on me, and I was only trying to assist them in doing their job. It’s frustrating,” he said.
Asked if he was sorry for what happened, he said: “No, I’m not sorry.”
He admitted he used profane language, but stressed that he was initially courteous, only shouting after the other officers kept dismissing that he knew information they didn’t.
Key words: “…with friends in a bar… yelling and swearing…” Translation: probably had a number or at least some drinks. Unless there was some sort of grievous harm about to come to his fellow cops, he should have stayed out of the situation because his judgment would be affected by the booze. Plenty of time to address the situation with superiors the next day when sober.
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It seems quite coincidental that this guy went off duty “sick” at the same time he got in trouble for this. Maybe he felt unfairly targeted by management and decided to punish them by getting a doctor to sign off on his bogus claim. Is it a stress leave situation? Funny how making an ass of yourself at work can make work stressful.
A drunken fool trying to help the police solve a crime…amazing he was told to get lost. He’s probably lucky he didn’t end up in the drunk tank.
But what’s three day’s pay when you’ve just had a two year paid vacation?
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We have all been there , that doesn’t make it right . My Point is the RCMP have once again demonstrated they are very good at eating their own . We some of the young inexperienced members on the street , I have been tempted to yell at a few .
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I know how Kroeker feels. His job sounds identical to mine in that we can do anything except get angry.
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