Top Mountie ousted by Higgs flagged political 'influence' on policing

The RCMP's top officer in New Brunswick raised concerns about political interference by the Higgs government when he was ousted from the job in 2021, according to a letter he wrote at the time.

Assistant commissioner Larry Tremblay wrote in the letter, obtained by CBC News, that his removal was the result of disagreements with the provincial government over its vision that "blurs the lines between politics and policing."

"In my view, it is imperative that the provincial police remain independent and free from influence in the application and enforcement of laws," he wrote in the July 26, 2021, letter to then-RCMP commissioner Brenda Lucki.

Tremblay wrote the letter 11 days after the government invoked a section of its policing contract with the RCMP to demand Tremblay's removal as the head of J Division in New Brunswick.

Ted Flemming, as justice and public safety minister, said at the time that he had "no confidence" that Tremblay could "drive the change" to fight drug crime and be accountable to local communities policed by the RCMP two priorities for the government, he said.

In his letter to Lucki, Tremblay said that wasn't true.

He told the commissioner that Flemming's letter was the first time anyone from the Higgs government told the RCMP that drug crime was its top priority, and that a "directional statement" from the province didn't refer to it as a priority.

Until he was called to a meeting on June 30, 2021, "I had not received any prior indication" that the partnership between the province and the RCMP "was anything but positive and future focused," he wrote.

WATCH | 'You can't tell me how to resolve that,' expert says about letter:

RCMP letter says Higgs government blurs the lines between politics, policing

1 month ago

Duration 1:34

A policing expert says Larry Tremblays 2021 letter reveals tension over who makes police operational decisions in New Brunswick.

"I believe the request for my removal is not related to a lack of provincial drug enforcement or community engagement and accountability," he continued.

"I believe this request stems from a different vision of the role of the provincial police that blurs the lines between politics and policing, and the resulting direction provided to police."

The three-page letter also provided details of the force's efforts on drug crime and said the RCMP's reporting structure through regional service commissions made it "extremely difficult to demonstrate to local communities the value of our service."

Tremblay's letter did not identify specific examples of blurred lines between politics and policing.

But he wrote the Higgs government and the RCMP had "principled differences" on issues, including "a measured approach to lawful protests" and Crown-Indigenous relations, as well as on policing standards, intelligence sharing and external reviews of incidents.

Three months before Tremblay's removal, the premier announced he was ending tax-sharing agreements with 13 First Nations communities in the province.

The federal police force had adopted an Indigenous reconciliation policy that included training for officers in "appropriate police intervention options" during protests, including alternatives to confrontation such as "de-escalation techniques."

The cancellation of the tax deals did not lead to any major protests or roadblocks by Indigenous people.

Tremblay would not agree to an interview about the letter or his removal.

A spokesperson for Public Safety Minister Kris Austin turned down a request for interviews with Austin, Flemming or Premier Blaine Higgs.

"Minister Flemming's letter to the Commissioner accurately expresses his reasons for writing," Geoffrey Downey said in an email.

"We have nothing further to say about this."

Christian Leuprecht, a professor and policing expert at the Royal Military College, said the letter is an example of "fundamental flaws in the contract policing model."

New Brunswick's contract with the RCMP says the provincial public safety minister sets "objectives, priorities and goals" for the RCMP's provincial policing, but the force decides how to apply federally set "professional police standards and procedures" to its operations.

Those two can be at odds, Leuprecht says.

The RCMP can also be left "holding the bag" when protests flare up over political decisions.

"Any police force will tell you, 'Our job is not to do political policing,'" Leuprecht said.

"We've learned a lot of hard lessons about how not to police political protest. I think that's partially what the deputy commissioner is likely echoing.

"The minister is telling him, 'I want this resolved, I want that resolved,' and he's saying, 'Yeah, you can tell me to resolve that, but you can't tell me how to resolve that.'"

The government's demand for Tremblay's removal was made under a section of the RCMP's contract with the province to police communities without their own municipal forces.

When the ouster became public in October 2021, Flemming said in an interview the government wanted to "declare war" on drug crime.

"I found, and the government found, that we were not having the kind of leadership that we felt we needed," he said.

Flemming requested Tremblay's removal in a July 15, 2021, letter to Lucki. Tremblay remained in the position until he retired from the RCMP at the end of October 2021.

Tremblay's letter disputing the province's explanation was dated July 26, and three days later, on July 29, Lucki responded to Flemming's request.

In her letter, the commissioner said it was unfortunate no one from the province had told her about "concerns" with Tremblay before invoking the agreement to ask for his removal.

"There may have been an opportunity to proactively address some of the issues you've raised," she wrote.

RMCP spokesperson Sgt. Kim Chamberland said in an email Friday that Tremblay "made a personal decision" to retire in 2021. She said the force had no other comment.