Ex-KV officer was a supply teacher while suspended amid sexual harassment allegations

A formerKennebecasis Regional Police Force officer worked as a supply teacher while he was suspended with pay from the force awaitingthe outcome ofa conduct complaint over allegedsexual harassment and other Police Act offences involving a female civilian employee he supervised, CBC News has learned.

Jeff Porter, also known asHerman Jeffrey Porter, was employed with the Anglophone South School Districtfrom September2019 to February 2020, a Right to Information request reveals.

Details about the schools at whichhe taught, the grade levels and the subjects were denied by the district's RTI co-ordinator Jessica Hanlon.

Hanlon cited the Right to Information Act, which says "disclosure of personal information about a third party shall be deemed to be an unreasonable invasion of the third party's privacy if (e) the personal information relates to the third party's employment or occupational history."

The district encompasses 69 schools with more than 22,000 students in kindergarten to Grade 12.

Porter'spay classification was Certification 4, which, during the dates he worked was a daily rate of $197.21, Hanlon said.

The district was unaware of the allegations against Porter when it hired him, according to a statement from superintendentZo Watson.

He was known to the district as Herman Porter, she said in an email late Monday afternoon.

"Anglophone South maintains high standards of professional conduct, and the examples of [alleged] misconduct you've listed do not align with behaviour tolerated in this district," Watson said.

"We would not hire a candidate if it were made known to us that that individual were under investigation in any capacity, be it self-disclosure or information provided by a reference or otherwise, and when or if new information comes to light regarding an employee, such as what you have described, we would not hesitate to end our employment of that individual."

Porter was not employed after February 2020 and is not employed in any capacity now, she said.

The district has established procedures to ensure "appropriate screening" of staff, said Watson.

All applicants are screened by human resources for suitability and investigated to ensure the safety of staff and students prior to hiring,she said.

Applicants for any position, such asteachers, maintenance and custodial workers, drivers, and administration,require criminal record checks and vulnerable sector record checks.

Three reference checks are also conducted, she said.

"Among other questions about performance and qualifications, referencesare asked if they are aware of any inappropriate conduct or criminal action by the candidates."

Allegations date back to 2016

Anglophone South carries out full investigations of unprofessional behaviour and violations of employment standards and enforces"appropriate consequences regardless of ongoing criminal investigations and possible charges," said Watson.

"If new information came to light that was not in keeping with our professional standards, we would check the validity of this new information, and if necessary, we would terminate the employee."

The allegationsagainst Porter, which date back to early 2016, have been widely reported over the years.

Porter, who retired Dec. 31 from the force that covers Quispamsis and Rothesay, could not immediately be reached for comment.

None of the allegations against himhave been proven.

Retired before facing arbitration hearing

The former inspector, who had been suspended with pay for more than four years, collecting more than $500,000, retired the same day he was scheduled to face anarbitration hearing before the New Brunswick Police Commission.

The hearing was unable to proceed because the provincial policing disciplinary bodyonly has authorityoveractive police officers.

An independent investigator hired by the commission found Portercommitted 81 breachesof various sections of the provincial Police Act, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority, corrupt practice and discreditable conduct.

Porter was subsequently accused ofthree more offences related to alleged retaliationagainst the original complainant.

Another independent investigator hired by the commission found Porterviolatedthree sections of the professional code of conduct, includingabuse of authority by harassment/intimidation, discreditable conduct while off duty, and insubordination.

Various commission hearings hadbeen delayed over the years, including during afailed legal challenge by Porter last February."One could be forgiven for suspecting that this motion is a veiled attempt at delay," Court of Queen's Bench Justice Terrence Morrison had commented in his decision.

Lawsuit pending

The lawyer for the alleged victim said Friday a lawsuit is still in the works, but he's trying first to negotiatea settlement.

"We're trying to get the municipalities that fund the police force, thattreated Mr. Porter so generously to do the right thing by our client," said Brian Murphy.

"We're trying to avoid courts and tribunals to get this sad chapter behind the municipalities. And, of course, for my client tofeel some validation. Those discussions are taking place and we hope that they're fruitful."

Murphy previously described Porter's retirement before facing arbitration and with a full pensionas a "slap in the face" to his client.

He expects to continue discussions for up to "another couple of months," he said, referring to legal action as a "last resort."

If his clientproceeds with a civil lawsuit, she will be seeking recognition, apologies, fair treatment and policy changes, he has said.

Case cost taxpayers more than $1M

Porter's case cost local taxpayers more than $1 million, Quispamsis Mayor Gary Clark has said.

Kennebecasis Regional Joint Board of Police Commissioners budget documents offer a breakdown of the so-called "extraneous labour costs."

Legal fees in 2018 and 2019 totallednearly $364,000, while salary and benefits accounted for another $277,000, according to the documents.

More than $246,000 isprojected for 2020, and the police board had budgeted for an additional$213,750 in 2021.

Figures for 2016 and 2017 were not included.

The district did not say why Porter's employment as a supply teacher ended in February 2020.

The next month, the province announced public schools would close for two weeks because of the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 19, Premier Blaine Higgs declared a state of emergency and ordered schools to remain closed until further notice.

The district did not respond to questions about whether Porter is working with them in any capacity now.