Ben Gelinas, Edmonton, A.B. (Edmonton Journal) – An RCMP officer with a history of disciplinary misconduct has been charged with an assault while he was off duty.
Allegations contained in court documents say Const. Chad Haggerty allegedly assaulted a woman January 22 in Fort Saskatchewan.
RCMP have not released any details about the case, stating that the matter is now before the courts.
They confirm, however, that Haggerty is currently suspended with pay.
Haggerty was last posted to the Thorsby detachment.
The 37-year-old officer was suspended prior to the assault complaint on an unrelated matter that is currently under investigation.
In addition, Haggerty was reprimanded internally in 2004 for a series of complaints dating back to 2001, when he was posted to Bonnyville’s detachment. An RCMP disciplinary board found him guilty of two counts of discreditable conduct.
Among the complaints proven to the board was the improper handling of a drug file, leading to the withdrawal of charges against two suspects.
He was also found to have banged a man’s head into a cellblock wall and, in a separate incident, slap another man’s cheeks to force him to take a breathalyser test.
The board gave Haggerty 15 days without pay and recommended counselling.
“There can be no excuse for a failure to act professionally,” it stated in a written decision. “A repeat of such conduct may well jeopardize Constable Haggerty’s continued employment with the force.”
Haggerty is expected to appear in Fort Saskatchewan Provincial Court on Feb. 17 to answer to the January assault charge.
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