Annalee Grant, Cranbrook, B.C. (Cranbrook Daily Townsman) – A Cranbrook RCMP officer has been charged with theft following an investigation launched in October by senior members of the Cranbrook RCMP detachment.
Const. Bryden Henessey resigned from the RCMP in December, after an internal investigation revealed the member had stolen a laptop while on duty.
Chief Superintendent Michael Sekela, Southeast District commander, spoke to reporters in Cranbrook on Tuesday to announce the charges.
“I’ve stated before that allegations of misconduct by our members are extremely troubling,” Chief Supt. Sekela said. “They are troubling to the public, and they are troubling to me.
“But they are also troubling to the over 9,000 RCMP members in British Columbia who have the highest moral and ethical standards.”
The charges stem from October 2011, when the RCMP received a call from the owner of a pawnshop looking for a laptop computer that had been taken as evidence by Henessey. The laptop had been seized at the pawnshop by Henessey – who was in uniform at the time – as it was purported to have been stolen. The laptop was never entered into evidence, and so an internal Code of Conduct investigation was launched by senior members of the Cranbrook RCMP detachment regarding Henessey’s handling of evidence.
When the investigation was launched, Henessey was immediately removed from operations pending the results of the Code of Conduct investigation. Within three weeks, the allegations against Henessey were substantiated.
“When the Code of Conduct allegations were substantiated, the subject was removed from his duties, and his gun and badge taken from him,” said Chief Supt. Sekela.
Henessey was then suspended from duty and served with a notice of stoppage of pay. In December, he submitted his resignation, which was accepted by the commanding officer in charge.
“He will never work for the RCMP again,” Chief Supt. Sekela said
The Crown has approved one charge of theft under $5,000 in relation to the incident, and Henessey’s first court date will be February 6. Because the case is before the courts, Chief Supt. Sekela declined to comment on any more details but said there are no other items alleged to have been stolen, and there is no concern that the contents of the laptop were of any value.
As a result of the investigation, Chief Supt. Sekela said the former officer’s actions while a police officer will be investigated.
“As with any internal investigation, it continues and is ongoing to ensure that there are no other items that would be missing,” he said.
The investigation began immediately after the allegations were brought forward, and Chief Supt. Sekela said the situation was handled in the way all complaints of this nature should be.
“While disappointing, this case was handled decisively and promptly,” he said.
Henessey attended Depot Division in August of 2001, and was posted to Cranbrook in 2007.
[Source]
Whether we endorse it or not there is a premise provided for by law that is called fundamental justice which encompasses much more than mere procedural rights. One may laud the quick move to dismissal as fair and just in this case, however, wyatt earpe raises important questions that need be addressed. Collectively it is the entirety of the facts that need to be surfaced in order to both serve justice and give the appearance of doing just that.
One only has to look a short distance down these very items to see the recent exoneration of an officer who was internally “handled” and then during his path though fundamental justice, was exonerated due to witness dishonesty. There is a reason we have these rights and not immediate unrestrained action based on incomplete facts. How would you feel if you were Officer Frewing (as ref above) and were convinced to quit before and impartial hearing? Indeed, how would you feel if you were the one who convinced/pressured him quit?
One may lament with respect to the elapsed time of such processes in getting to completion, however, you cannot deny any individual in this country his or her right to fundamental justice.
Whether you agree or disagree, police officers are also accorded fundamental justice just as any other citizen. There is nothing in the Charter that allows for exceptions for any group of people.
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Unjust, you are assuming Henessey is guilty. That may be a result of Sekela’s premature and grand-standing words at the press conference. I agree with you that a choice to resign or be charged is not a bad way to go, but I do wonder, Was he given a choice or was he manipulated, intimidated, bullied,co-erced, or advised by his Union rep equivalent into the resignation? If this case makes it to court, it will be interesting to see what happens. Was Henessay just stupid and stole a laptop while on duty, or is there more to it? Did he perhaps mishandle the evidence, fail to admit it as evidence in a timely manner. Is he a thief or is he a sacrifice?
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Something smells rotten in Cranbrook, and I am not convinced it’s Henessey…How impressive it would be if all of the outstanding complaints of harassment against the RCMP supervisors could be handled as “decisively and promptly” as this case was.
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