West Kelowna含羞草研究社檚 top cop is involved in an RCMP apology 含羞草研究社� several years in the making.

Nearly six years after the former administration manager of the White Rock RCMP was banned from the premises of the Pacific Avenue detachment for alleged breaches of procedure, policy and security, B.C.含羞草研究社檚 top cop has apologized for the actions of the RCMP.

Including the actions of Staff Sgt. Lesli Roseberry, who took over the West Kelowna detachment in April 2016.

In a statement couriered to our sister paper, the Peace Arch News, E Division Deputy Cmsr. Craig Callens describes allegations made in an RCMP document that was provided to the City of White Rock in 2011 regarding the conduct of then-city-employee Jordan Murray-Wahl as 含羞草研究社渦nfounded.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淥n behalf of the Royal Canadian Mountain (sic) Police, I offer my sincere apology to Ms. Murray-Wahl for any damage to her reputation or any stress, anxiety or loss of income or reputation that she has suffered as a result of the actions of the RCMP prior to and following the provision of the document to the City of White Rock,含羞草研究社� Callens states.

Wednesday, Murray-Wahl含羞草研究社檚 lawyer Kevin Woodall confirmed the apology was part of settlement discussions that made trial 含羞草研究社� which had been scheduled to get underway Feb. 14 含羞草研究社� unnecessary.

He said that Callens delivering a face-to-face apology to Murray-Wahl also 含羞草研究社渇ully renewed含羞草研究社� his client含羞草研究社檚 confidence in the RCMP.

含羞草研究社淗er faith in the organization was shattered to the core by what happened to her in 2011,含羞草研究社� Woodall said, noting the apology 含羞草研究社渇irmly set aside含羞草研究社� any doubts Murray-Wahl had with regard to the Mounties含羞草研究社� willingness to acknowledge the wrongdoing.

含羞草研究社淪he is pleased that the allegations that were made against her and that were in part published in your story含羞草研究社� have been definitively laid to rest.含羞草研究社�

Peace Arch News that the city had received word from then-detachment commander Staff Sgt. Lesli Roseberry on April 7 of that year advising that in the view of the RCMP, Murray-Wahl had been 含羞草研究社渄eemed unsuitable to continue work at the detachment,含羞草研究社� and would not be allowed to enter the premises.

The decision 含羞草研究社� detailed in a document Callens notes was 含羞草研究社渋ntended to remain confidential含羞草研究社� 含羞草研究社� followed an RCMP investigation that began in December 2010 and allegedly identified breaches dating back to at least April of that year.

In his statement dated Feb. 6, Callens said the RCMP document 含羞草研究社渃ontained language that could lead the reader to draw negative conclusions about Ms. Murray-Wahl and her character.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淯pon further investigation, the RCMP has determined that the allegations contained in the document were unfounded and constitute an unfair and inaccurate portrayal of Ms. Murray-Wahl. Throughout her tenure at the White Rock Detachment she conducted herself professionally and with integrity.含羞草研究社�

Murray-Wahl, 52, filed a civil suit in April 2013, seeking general, special, aggravated and punitive damages in connection with the matter, which she said resulted in the termination of her position with the city in September 2011.

The notice of claim, finalized last Dec. 5, names Roseberry, Callens, Chief Supt. Janice Armstrong, Assistant Cmsr. Norman Lipinski and the attorneys general of B.C. and Canada.

Among other things, it alleged Roseberry, Armstrong, Lipinski and Callens breached their public duties, resulting in Murray-Wahl含羞草研究社檚 loss of employment, loss of security clearance, loss of reputation and loss of career, as well as prolonged stress and anguish.

Roseberry, it states, launched an investigation into Murray-Wahl based on unreliable information and without lawful authority. Murray-Wahl含羞草研究社檚 含羞草研究社渞ight to a fair process was subverted by Roseberry含羞草研究社檚 deliberate abuse of her powers as a public officer,含羞草研究社� the claim states.

As well, it alleges Roseberry intended for the document in question to be leaked, or failed to secure it, and as a result it was provided to the Peace Arch News.

A response to the civil claim filed in April 2014 and amended last August states Roseberry acted within her authority, and denies 含羞草研究社渢hat any action on the part of the defendants含羞草研究社� constitute dishonesty, gross negligence or malicious or willful misconduct.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淭he defendants say that any actions taken by them or any RCMP member were taken in good faith and within the course and scope of their duties as RCMP members and provincial constables.含羞草研究社�

Neither Callens nor Roseberry, who took the helm of the West Kelowna RCMP detachment last year, responded to Peace Arch News含羞草研究社檚 request for comment by press time.

In a letter to Peace Arch News that accompanied the released statement, Callens writes that he wants to 含羞草研究社渟et the record straight.含羞草研究社�

A reference letter included with the package aims 含羞草研究社渢o counteract any possible negative conclusions and inform the reader that Ms. Murray-Wahl is a hard-working, dedicated employee who the RCMP is prepared to have working within the organization.含羞草研究社�

Woodall said his client含羞草研究社檚 settlement included 含羞草研究社渇air and substantial含羞草研究社� financial compensation. (The court documents also note that Murray-Wahl received damages from the city in connection with her termination.)

Woodall added that Callens was also 含羞草研究社渧ery generous含羞草研究社� in assisting Murray-Wahl in applying for a position with the Surrey RCMP 含羞草研究社� a job she was awarded.

He said that while the case sets no legal precedents due to it being settled out of court, it provides 含羞草研究社渁 tangible sign to the commitment of the RCMP含羞草研究社� regarding preventing and redressing harassment and bullying claims.

含羞草研究社淭his result is an illustration of the RCMP含羞草研究社檚 renewed commitment to its anti-harassment and bullying policy,含羞草研究社� Woodall said.

by PAN editor on Scribd