MJPS: Lost, Missing, Stolen and Misplaced
Robert Thomas
Lost, stolen, missing and misplaced: these are four words often associated with reports from and calls to the Moose Jaw Police Services (MJPS) It's not so common, though, that the police themselves are the victims when those words are brought up.
Through a July 11th Freedom of Information request, MJ Independent obtained everything fitting into these four categories at the MJPS over the last five years. The FOI cost $84.
Beginning January 1, 2018, municipal police forces became subject to Freedom of Information legislation and new rules on the protection of privacy. It's a law that already covered the RCMP.
Below is a breakdown of some of the incidents reported.
Lost Police Badge
On June 4, 2013 one officer reported losing his police breast badge “somewhere around the 28th of March”. Attempts to locate the badge, at the time, were unsuccessful.
On October 28, 2013 the officer involved reported the badge had been located. The documents do not detail where and how the badge was found.
Unknown Vehicle Damage X 3
Damage to vehicles of unknown origin was reported on three separate occasions.
On July 25, 2017 damage was reported to a 2015 F150 pickup. At 4am, the officer said that while parking the unit in the basement he noted a panel missing on the right side bottom rear of the passenger compartment.
“I have no idea when, where or how this damage occurred,” he wrote in the report.
On May 25, 2016 a report was made that there was damage to a police cruiser. A piece of plastic had cracked on the corner of the door and fallen off.
The curse of plastic parts falling off of police cruisers struck again when a third similar incident was reported on July 16, 2013. In this incident a panel was reported to be coming loose and falling off.
The exact date, time and where the panel fell off was never determined despite several officers being asked about it.
Found Money In Cruiser
Officers showed exemplary honesty when it came to finding misplaced money in a cruiser.
On September 25, 2017 an officer conducted a routine cursory search of a cruiser before his shift, where he found $20 and a Bic lighter. The officer placed the items in the lost and found. He later spoke to another officer to ask him if it was his money. The officer knew nothing about it.
In the end the money was never claimed by any officer and on January 11, 2018 turned over to the petty cash account.
Missing Meds While in Custody
Sometimes crimes committed are opportunistic in nature. This apparently happened on November 27, 2014 when police were informed a prisoner transported to Regina had medication missing.
A search was conducted of the cells, court cell area and transport van. One single 6 mg bubble wrap Hydromorph Contin was found inside the van.
It was suspected that the medications went missing at the court. There were a number of prisoners that day at the court and the medications were in an envelope on the commissionaire's desk in a common area.
“Redacted name cannot state for sure if a prisoner took the drugs or if (name redacted) took the drugs for (redacted) then claim for extra dosage,” the general occurrence report read.
The missing four 6 MG capsules of hydromorph and tablet of Ritalin were never recovered.
Prisoner Complaint
When releasing a prisoner July 26, 2016 a complaint was laid that a pair of red Nike shorts and a black hoodie was missing. An investigation to find the items ensued.
A review of the video tape of the suspect's booking showed that when he was brought into the police station he was not wearing shoes nor a hoodie. He had been arrested while swimming at the outdoor pool.
The video tape was saved and the complainant invited to come and view it. He never returned.
Returned SDHC Card
A member of the public brought in evidence to the police on an SDHC memory card. In this case the card was misplaced by the officer after transferring the evidence to the police computer.
A search ensued and the SDHC card was found and returned to its rightful owner.
Lost Flashlights
A November 10, 2017 motor vehicle accident had an officer writing an apologetic email to “regret to report” that he had lost his issued flashlight after leaving it on a display rack of a convenience store.
The officer went back shortly after noticing it was missing but it was already gone.
A second lost flashlight had an officer requesting it be returned or he be pointed in the right direction where it might be.
“If you saw, moved, borrowed, took, stole or kept it as a spare it would be greatly appreciated if you could put it in my tray, or point me in the right direction,” the officer wrote.
Misplaced Video Tape
On June 9, 2014 a police officer reported that he was unable to locate a VHS video tape.
A search was conducted but the tape was never found according to the documents.