RCMP mum on officer investigation
Police say cop running stop sign through school zone complaint has been resolved but won't say how
Northern News Services
Published Friday, November 28 2014
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Yellowknife RCMP is not saying what, if any, disciplinary action was taken, or charges laid against an officer who allegedly ran a stop sign in a school zone.
It was reported the officer activated his own emergency lights after he was pulled over by a municipal enforcement division officer in October.
"The matter has now been resolved in an informal setting," said RCMP Const. Elenore Sturko.
"It was resolved to the complainant's satisfaction."
Sturko said due to privacy rules, she is not allowed to release details about the resolution.
"I have no idea whether a ticket was issued," she said.
The incident was reported in October by a local radio announcer who was on a ride-along with the bylaw officer when the alleged infraction occurred. He said he saw the Mountie, who was driving a pick-up truck, fail to stop for the stop sign while he had a child in the vehicle. According to the announcer, the driver of the pickup then activated his own red and blue flashing lights.
The announcer stated in an online report that there was a young boy in the front seat and there seemed to be little reason for the unmarked truck's emergency lights to be activated other than the driver's hope of avoiding a ticket.
At the time, Doug Gillard, manager of the city's municipal enforcement division, confirmed the incident did happen. He said there was a brief verbal exchange between the officer and the driver of the pickup. Gillard added that the information on the incident was forwarded to RCMP detachment commander Insp. Frank Gallagher from municipal enforcement.
RCMP then confirmed that an internal investigation had been launched. Gillard said bylaw officers do not generally ticket on-duty RCMP officers.
Gillard said he did not know how the issue had been resolved. He said it was not municipal enforcement that filed the complaint.
"What I can tell you is that the fine for running a stop sign in a school zone is $75, the same as it is outside a school zone."
Gillard said only speeding fines are increased inside school zones.
RCMP have never identified the officer in question to Yellowknifer, or said why he activated his emergency lights or whether he was on duty at the time.
