It was a top news story in late October 2020 when Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) Chief Rick Bourassa released the reasons why the organization terminated former constable Alan Murdock.
The reasons for the termination of Murdock after 32 years on the force were a laundry list of misconducts, which Chief Bourassa at the time said he had referred to the Saskatchewan Attorney General's Office for review and potential criminal charges.
During a media scrum with Bourassa on April 21, he revealed no criminal charges would be laid against the former constable.
"It's a good question. Yes, we were informed there would be no proceeding with criminal charges in these matters," Bourassa told reporters.
Former constable Murdock had been terminated based upon numerous serious allegations that Chief Bourassa laid out at the October 2020 meeting of the Board of Moose Jaw Police Commissioners.
Some of the allegations made against Murdock included:
- Sexually assaulting a female co-worker on the job
- Taking home evidence out of the MJPS's evidence locker on 47 separate occasions
- Mishandling his police firearm at home
- Assaulting a young man with pepper spray in 1998 while in uniform and on duty after the young man made an obscene gesture to the then off-duty constable the day before
- Possessing missing child pornography from the station and taking it home
- Accessing information when he was told not to
- Being investigated in 2012 for allegedly sending flirtatious emails to a then 15-year-old girl.
None of the allegations against the former constable were ever proven at a disciplinary action because the former constable withdrew his appeal at the last moment. Also, his dismissal hearings were re-scheduled three times before he withdrew his appeal.
Once an officer withdraws or resigns, any further disciplinary action against them under the Saskatchewan Police Act is discontinued.
The decision not to proceed with any criminal charges means the allegations against Murdock will never be proven in court.
The Moose Jaw Board of Police Commissioners spent $229,601.83 terminating Murdock.
