Alberta police watchdog to investigate whether Lethbridge officers broke law in surveilling former minister

Alberta's police watchdog has been directed to investigate whether there was criminal behaviour in the case of twoLethbridge police officers who have beensuspended, after admitting to unauthorized surveillance of MLA Shannon Phillips in 2017, when she was Alberta's environment minister.

The two watchedand photographed theminister duringa meeting in a diner, as well as following and running the licence plate of one of the people she met with.

Sgt. Jason Carrier and Const. Keon Woronukwere temporarily demoted following a disciplinaryhearing decision issued June 9, which was first reported by Medicine Hat'sCHAT News Today on Monday.

An agreed statement of facts in that decision says one officer, Carrier, said he overheard Phillips discussing NDP plans to increase environmental protections and create a provincial park inthe Castle region ofsouthwest Alberta.

Both officers were involved in the off-roading community, whose memberswere upset by NDP plans to restrict off-road vehicle usein theenvironmentally sensitive area.

Discreditable conduct, acts of deceit

The disciplinary hearing found multiple breaches of police regulations. The penalty decisionaccused the officers of "using [their] position as a police officer for [their] personal advantage or another person's advantage" and included charges of corrupt practice, discreditable conduct and acts of deceit.

Justice Minister Doug Schweitzer expressed his shock via Twitter on Monday evening, saying he was previously unaware of the incident and that the government was not involved in the professional standards investigation.

He said the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team has been directed to review that investigation to determine whether there aregrounds for a criminal investigation.

"To say it is completely unacceptable that members of the police would conduct unauthorized surveillance of any Albertan in particular an elected official is an understatement," he said.

"If an officer in this town or officers are going to place someone under surveillance because they don't agree with them, what does that mean for overall community safety?" Phillips said in a press conference earlier Monday evening.

"We trust police officers to keep our communities safewe don't expect them to initiate these threats or use their positions of authority to intimidate an elected official."

On April 14, 2017, the Lethbridge-West MLA, then theenvironment minister, held an informal breakfast meeting at Chef Stella Diner in Lethbridge. Thepolice disciplinary decision says the meeting was to discuss NDP plans for a provincial park in theCastle region, although Phillips who wasn't party to the agreed statement of facts contested that through a spokesperson on Tuesday and said the primary purpose of the meeting was to discuss the reintroduction of bison into Banff National Park.

In any case, Phillips was overheard discussingthe Castle area by Carrier, who wasseated nearby with other officers on a break, and hetextedWoronuk to join him,according to the agreed statement of facts.

Woronuk, who was an acting sergeant on duty that morning, joined and also took a photo of Phillips and the stakeholders.

As they were leaving the diner to resume their shifts, Woronuk said to Carrier he "would hate to see Phillips drive away from the restaurant and there was a reason to stop her," according to the agreed statement of facts.

Motivated by personal views

Woronuk admitted to then following one of thestakeholders as they left the meeting, running their licence plateand sending a screenshot to Carrier.

He said there was no lawful reason to run the screenshot and said his actions were motivated by his personal and political views.

The following day,Woronukposted a photo of Phillips alongside a caption criticizing her and her governmentto Facebook, under thealias "Mike Corps."

After learning of the post, Phillips made a complaint to Calgary police.

Calgary police investigated, and after discovering the unlawful licence plate search, passedtheir investigation on to Medicine Hat police, resulting in charges being laid.

"A police officer must be ... seen to be impartial in the execution of their duties. There is no other way to police. This is a matter where the cited officers put their self-interests ahead of their oath of office and responsibilities," Supt. Paul Manuel wrote in his decision.

Woronuk will bedemoted from senior constable to first-class constable for two years, after admitting totwo counts of corrupt practice, as well as discreditable conduct, deceit and insubordinationunder the Police Service Regulation.

Carrier admitted to one count each of discreditable conduct and neglect of duty, and will bedemoted from sergeant to senior constable for one year.

Premier Jason Kenneycalled the conduct "completely unacceptable" late Monday night on Twitter, and praised Schweitzer for taking swift action.

Phillips said she was onlymade aware of the demotions Sunday andsaid she will becalling on the justice minister to appoint a special investigator to look into the matter.

Schweitzer said he has instructed hisdepartment to arrange for an out-of-province prosecutor, should ASIRT require legal advice in conducting its investigation or laying charges.

CBC News has reached out to the three police services involved in the disciplinary proceedings for commentand has yet to receive a response.

Read the full decision below, or click here.