Rhino's Ramblings - Murdock Affair Deserves Public Inquiry

By Robert Thomas Opinion/Commentary

It was one of the biggest stories in 2020 the termination of longtime former Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) Constable Alan Murdock but now with a whimper the entire sordid affair has gone dead.

This after spending $221,609.83 to finally terminate the former constable.

For Constable Alan Murdock will not be facing any criminal charges MJPS Chief Rick Bourassa revealed this past week during a local media scrum.

The same Chief Bourassa who told a different media scrum in October 2020 the outcome of an internal investigation was being turned over to the Saskatchewan Attorney General's office due to what many believed to be criminal activity by the former constable.

Criminal activity which now did not take place after a review by outside investigators it seems.

In my opinion it seemed in October 2020 when the allegations against the former constable were revealed to the public Chief Rick Bourassa felt something criminal had happened.

But in the end that is not the case.

Seemingly quietly the entire case has been swept under the rug and nothing more will come of it.

Or will it still be there but at least not publicly dealt with?

But rather lingering in the minds of many Moose Javians contributing to a loss of trust in the MJPS.

For those who unaware of what happened the veteran constable had his employment terminated after 32 years for what could be compared to as a veritable shopping list for a family of ten when it comes to accusations.

You name it, the former Constable Alan Murdock allegedly did it - or that is at least in my opinion what MJPS Chief Rick Bourassa wanted people to believe.

Sitting at the Moose Jaw Board of Police Commissioners meeting in October 2020 Chief Bourassa read out the allegations detailing the former constable's alleged on-duty conduct.

If you don’t believe me take a listen as to what Chief Bourassa said all about it.

These are not my words but the words of the Chief of Police about one of his officers.

Or how about Constable Murray Rice laying out the naked truth for the Chief at the same meeting.

The Chief even went so far as to state that the findings of his probe into the former officer's conduct seemingly crossed the line from not just breaking the Saskatchewan Police Act but actually went further and was in the Chief's opinion warranted for Criminal Code of Canada charges.

But now there has been a review and the many people in my opinion think the worst officer in the recent history of the MJPS is not as bad as they think.

But there is another side to the entire former Constable Alan Murdock affair.

And that is the feeling by what I believe is the opinion of many that Constable Murdock is not the only dirty officer on the MJPS. It is not going to be something the MJPS will easily walk away from.

Can I prove that statement?

No it is my opinion after the reactions I have received.

There are even some in the community who see Mr Murdock as the fall guy (a scapegoat if you like) and there needs to be a major review and housecleaning of the MJPS.

Since the entire Murdoch story broke I will tell you MJ Independent has received what I personally believe highly credible tips alleging that former Constable Murdock was made an example of and a more public inquiry is necessary to cleat the air about the MJPS.

Are the stories I have been told true? Are they mere rumours passed onto me?

I will be honest and tell you I have no way of knowing.

I do know one thing for sure my sources were so accurate that Chief Rick Bourassa had a member of the Regina City Police - his former employer - investigate me when I published some of them in Rhino’s Ramblings.

The attempt was made - at the behest of Chief Bourassa - to find out who were my source or sources and if they were past or present members of the MJPS.

Something I am never going to release.

It all leaves me personally scratching my head.

What is the real truth in all of this? And don’t the public need the facts revealed in an unbiased environment to restore the lost trust in the MJPS?

Allegations former Constable Murdock on numerous occasions took items - often off duty - from the MJPS evidence locker.

Actions in my own opinion if they in any way tampered with any criminal case must warrant a better look.

Did these actions compromise the rights of any accused to a fair and impartial legal hearing?

Allegations of providing drugs to minors.

Allegations of Constable Murdock pressing into his fellow officers without permission while on duty. Is this not a common assault?

Since revealing the former constable will not be facing any criminal charges for his alleged actions more than a few have told me in their opinions the MJPS are seemingly above the law.

And that is a major problem in my opinion.

The MJPS needs the trust of the community in order to effectively carry out their duties and in my opinion that trust has now for more than a few been irrevocably destroyed.

Simply put in my opinion more than a few everyday law abiding citizens have had their trust in the MJPS eroded.

Deserved or not all MJPS services badges are severely tarnished by the former Constable Murdock affair.

There are in my opinion so many questions which need to be publicly answered if the MJPS are ever going to repair the reputational damage caused by the allegations against former Constable Alan Murdock.

Allegations which were never proven either in a police commission disciplinary hearing or in a court of criminal law.

Because let’s face it. It was not Constable Murdock who attempted to have his termination appeal dismissed but rather the employer the Moose Jaw Board of Police Commissioners.

I know people are going to say, yes but it was in the end former Constable Murdock who abandoned his appeal.

But the question needs to be asked why? Why was the termination appeal abandoned?

Was it in the end a guilty Constable Murdoch realizing he had no opportunity to win?

Or could it be - after beating the MJ Board of Police Commissioners to have the Appeal heard - former Constable Murdock found himself without sufficient funds to hire legal representation?

Remember it cost over $220,000 to finally dismiss the former constable which has me asking did Mister Murdock just give up his appeal because he could not afford to do so?

Did former Constable Murdock receive anything such as owed pay or holiday pay after his appeal was dropped?

And why if he looked so guilty why did Constable Murdock want to appeal his termination anyhow?

Was there some underlying reason former Constable Alan Murdock wanted his alleged transgressions made public?

How did he manage to act in the manner alleged for decades without being earlier dismissed? Were other officers aware of it all and just gave up trying to do something about it or worse yet just did not care?

If a person was cynical they in my opinion may ask was the MJPS trying to hide something by basically making the hearing untenable?

Or what about the former female communications officer who alleged the former constable had sexually assaulted her in the MJPS police station?

Remember what was said in October 2020: “Alan Murdock, a police officer, a constable, a trusted member of the community did in fact sexually assault me in 2003,” a former MJPS communications officer said. “Chief Terry Coleman signed off the file as a ‘concern file’.

What has happened to these serious allegations?

There are so many questions surrounding the entire episode and I stress the now largely publicly unproven allegations that perhaps to build or rather re-build trust in the MJPS a further public inquiry is warranted.

With former Constable Alan Murdock now not facing criminal charges, and unlikely to do so, a public inquiry could take place.

Public inquiries are not always intended to punish and often they can get to the truth and repair any problems if they exist.

When it comes to repairing the public trust lost for their employees on the MJPS it is perhaps something the five member Moose Jaw Board of Police Commissioners need to seriously look at.

Perhaps in the end a public inquiry might tell us why it cost just over $220,000 to get rid of the one bad apple in the barrel.

Not holding a public inquiry in the end up could be a disservice to the honest men and women employed at the MJPS who are now being painted with the same brush of public distrust the Murdock Affair has created.

Editor’s Note :- The preceding is an opinion/commentary of a local event and expresses the personal views of the author’s. It may not match your personal views and in all fairness if you wish to express your views in this matter we appreciate your participation.