{"id":824634,"date":"2025-02-05T11:12:07","date_gmt":"2025-02-05T17:12:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/05\/court-upholds-unpaid-suspension-of-ex-edmonton-police-officers-accused-of-assault-and-workplace-harassment\/"},"modified":"2025-02-05T11:12:07","modified_gmt":"2025-02-05T17:12:07","slug":"court-upholds-unpaid-suspension-of-ex-edmonton-police-officers-accused-of-assault-and-workplace-harassment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/05\/court-upholds-unpaid-suspension-of-ex-edmonton-police-officers-accused-of-assault-and-workplace-harassment\/","title":{"rendered":"Court upholds unpaid suspension of ex-Edmonton police officers accused of assault and workplace harassment"},"content":{"rendered":"<article aria-labelledby=\"articleTitle\" data-wcm-id=\"e04a7ea4-b675-44e9-b41e-68f1a0eb23e3\">\n<header aria-label=\"Beginning of Article\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><span> Get the latest from Jonny Wakefield straight to your inbox <\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><span>Published Jan 06, 2025<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 <span>6 minute read<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure data-aqa=\"featured-image\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/20230202db011.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;h=423&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=Sfi-VieomeWqvhWc8Lf6_A, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/20230202db011.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;h=846&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=2v-LVWOiaFrHPmkt3YEJ7A 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/20230202db011.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;h=423&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=Q-bEhCklVI75HtqW0gq0sA, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/20230202db011.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;h=846&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=CY7ck4pX-aSF_920uZZCeA 2x\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/20230202db011.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;h=354&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=xJruBd5GunnRFPksUvjk0g, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/20230202db011.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;h=708&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=D2DBF4hGUJGvP4jAv1pZMg 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/20230202db011.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;h=354&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=Nuhkj2mc5bmoY4S7ho6vdQ, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/20230202db011.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;h=708&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=JbMcOx5oMOT-LT-mV8S2ew 2x\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/20230202db011.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=xk-r3aMI6RRKRjI0i02nCA, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/20230202db011.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;h=432&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=EGbCNoXsBxvzE-O9OHyzdQ 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Edmonton police\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/20230202db011.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;sig=8Op7Lr1RRip876EHYuwUyw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/20230202db011.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;sig=8Op7Lr1RRip876EHYuwUyw,\n                    https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/20230202db011.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;h=432&#038;sig=U-9nE2BSXb05NQmS0DyoNQ 2x\" height=\"750\" width=\"1000\"><\/picture><figcaption><span>An Edmonton Police Service vehicle seen in early 2023. In a decision issued Jan. 3, 2025, a Court of King&#8217;s Bench judge upheld unpaid suspensions against two former officers accused of assault and workplace harassment, while overturning the suspension of a third who spoke at a freedom convoy event.<\/span> <span>Photo by David Bloom<\/span> \/<span>Postmedia, file<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<section>\n<p><em>Warning: this story mentions suicide. If you need help, the AHS Mental Health Help Line can be reached at 1-877-303-2642. The Canada Suicide Prevention Service can be contacted at 1-833-456-4566. The Suicide Crisis Helpline is 988.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>A judge has upheld unpaid suspensions against two former Edmonton Police Service officers \u2014 one of whom was criminally charged with assaulting an Indigenous man and two colleagues, another who allegedly created a \u201ctoxic\u201d work environment, including by joking about suicide after a co-worker killed herself.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-aqa=\"identity-sign-in\" data-async id=\"article-block\">\n<header>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Edmonton Journal\" height=\"37\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/17.9.6\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-ej-new.svg\" width=\"280\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n<p>Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters.<\/li>\n<li>Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.<\/li>\n<li>Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.<\/li>\n<li>Support local journalism.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n<p>Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters.<\/li>\n<li>Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.<\/li>\n<li>Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.<\/li>\n<li>Support local journalism.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n<p>Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access articles from across Canada with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy additional articles per month.<\/li>\n<li>Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n<p>Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access articles from across Canada with one account<\/li>\n<li>Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy additional articles per month<\/li>\n<li>Get email updates from your favourite authors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div data-auth-component id=\"auth-screen-form\" aria-live=\"assertive\">\n<h2>Sign In or Create an Account<\/h2>\n<p><span><\/span><span>or<\/span><span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p data-async>Court of King\u2019s Bench Justice James Neilson issued a <a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"decision\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/www.canlii.org\/en\/ab\/abkb\/doc\/2025\/2025abkb2\/2025abkb2.html\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/www.canlii.org\/en\/ab\/abkb\/doc\/2025\/2025abkb2\/2025abkb2.html\" target=\"_blank\">decision<\/a> last week in the case of three former EPS officers all relieved from duty without pay by Chief Dale McFee.<\/p>\n<p>As required by the Police Act, the Edmonton Police Commission reviewed the unpaid suspensions and upheld McFee\u2019s decision in all three cases. The three officers applied for a judicial review, asking the court to determine whether McFee and the commission were correct in finding there were \u201cexceptional circumstances\u201d meriting the unpaid suspensions.<\/p>\n<p>Neilson found that while the commission was right to side with McFee in the cases of Det. Scott Carter and Sgt. Mark Coates, it committed legal errors regarding Staff Sgt. Richard Abbott, who spoke at a trucker convoy rally in early 2022.<\/p>\n<p>All three are \u201cno longer with the Edmonton Police Service,\u201d the judge stated.<\/p>\n<h2>Officer accused of assault, falsifying report<\/h2>\n<p data-async>Carter was <a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"criminally charged\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/news\/local-news\/edmonton-police-officer-facing-assault-charges\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/news\/local-news\/edmonton-police-officer-facing-assault-charges\" target=\"_blank\">criminally charged<\/a> with assault in early 2022. <a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"Few details\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/news\/local-news\/edmonton-police-officer-facing-assault-charges\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/news\/local-news\/edmonton-police-officer-facing-assault-charges\" target=\"_blank\">Few details<\/a> about the off-duty incident were provided at the time, but according to Neilson\u2019s decision, the 25-year officer was accused of assaulting a man he mistakenly believed was tampering with his wife\u2019s car, as well as two officers who intervened.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div aria-labelledby=\"EdmontonJournalHeadlineNews195336685067192259692835926704128\" data-account-id=\"b9d3df2fccd108b5eff3c44f573b2cd6\" data-aqa=\"widget-newsletter\" data-newsletter=\"single\" data-newsletter-component data-target-list=\"EJ_HeadlineNews\" data-widget=\"newsletter\">\n<p>By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Carter and his wife were having dinner at Joey Bell Tower on July 6, 2021. He left the restaurant after his wife said she had seen people \u201cmessing with\u201d her vehicle in the parking lot across the street.<\/p>\n<p>While CCTV revealed someone was in fact looking at her vehicle, Carter instead approached a 15-year-old girl and a 34-year-old man. Both were Indigenous and were \u201csimply walking together in the vicinity,\u201d Carter\u2019s notice of suspension states.<\/p>\n<p>The girl said Carter approached them, told them not to touch his vehicle, then tackled her companion. The teen pulled a knife, saying she wanted to protect her friend, who held her back, trying to distance himself from Carter. While this was happening, two on-duty officers drove by and saw \u201ca large statured caucasian male assaulting a homeless person.\u201d One of the officers claimed he saw Carter grab the man by the collar and push him backwards against a car in the intersection of 103 Avenue.<\/p>\n<p>When the two on-duty officers tried to break up the fight, Carter allegedly pushed both away. He reportedly shouted, \u201cDon\u2019t you know who I am?\u201d and, \u201cDon\u2019t f\u2014ing tell me to calm down, arrest them!\u201d He eventually told the constables he was a 25-year police officer.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Both the teen and her friend were arrested. The man spent more than an hour in cells before being released without charges, while the girl was charged with assault and weapons offences and held for a bail hearing. All charges against her were later withdrawn.<\/p>\n<p>A few days later, Carter alleged wrote a report claiming the teen girl instigated the fight by pulling a knife, and that he merely used her friend as a human shield.<\/p>\n<p data-async>McFee said Carter\u2019s story is \u201cinconsistent\u201d with the CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts, accusing him of providing \u201can inaccurate and misleading account in the police report.\u201d An internal complaint was filed, and Carter was charged with misconduct under the Police Act. He was <a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"criminally charged\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/news\/local-news\/edmonton-police-officer-facing-assault-charges\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/news\/local-news\/edmonton-police-officer-facing-assault-charges\" target=\"_blank\">criminally charged<\/a> the following year. Neilson\u2019s decision does not say whether those charges have been resolved.<\/p>\n<p>The Edmonton Police Commission, which must review unpaid suspensions within 30 days, agreed with McFee, finding it was reasonable to conclude there were exceptional circumstance justifying Carter\u2019s relief from duty without pay.<\/p>\n<p>Ex-commissioner Aneela Hussainaly was the sole dissenting voice, arguing McFee should not have suspended Carter in part because he was \u201coff duty at the time these offences occurred\u201d and was \u201cthreatened with a knife and \u2026 acting to protect himself.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Neilson found the decision to suspend Carter without pay was reasonable.<\/p>\n<p data-async>An EPS officer named Scott Carter previously <a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"faced discipline and apologized\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/edmonton\/officer-s-racist-email-made-public-for-1st-time-1.803973\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/edmonton\/officer-s-racist-email-made-public-for-1st-time-1.803973\" target=\"_blank\">faced discipline and apologized<\/a> for an email that referred to a prisoner transport van as \u201cthe mobile Native Friendship Centre\u201d and stated \u201can \u2018Aboriginal\u2019 is actually just an Indian.\u201d An EPS spokesperson was unable to confirm by press time whether that officer is the same person.<\/p>\n<h2>Inappropriate comments about sex, suicide<\/h2>\n<p>Coates, a 31-year EPS member, was charged under the Police Act after a civilian he supervised in the emergency communications branch raised concerns about him with the service\u2019s workplace harassment unit in 2021.<\/p>\n<p>The alleged comments included a note Coates handed to the civilian that read \u201c\u20181-800-EAT-S\u2013T&#8217;\u201d and telling her, \u2018Here is a quarter, call someone who cares,&#8217;\u201d stating that she should switch her personal lash business to waxing because \u201cthere is a lot of money in vaginas;\u201d as well as sexual comments about underwear and events that took place at his bachelor party.<\/p>\n<p>Another civilian dispatcher later told workplace harassment investigators about problematic comments made by Coates, claiming he said a person who killed themselves by jumping off a building should have \u201cflapped harder.\u201d The alleged comment came less than two weeks after EPS learned the civilian who filed the initial complaint had died by suicide. Coates also made lewd comments about sex relating to a squad camping trip and distributed revealing photos of the female civilian dispatcher\u2019s chest, she said.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>A constable also came forward, claiming Coates told stories about how he \u201cwould choke out students of Middle Eastern descent while working as a school liaison officer as a way to, \u2018Show those Arab kids who is in charge,&#8217;\u201d Coates\u2019 suspension notice states.<\/p>\n<p>Police commissioners upheld McFee\u2019s decision suspending Coates without pay, saying he \u201ccandidly admits\u201d most of the offending comments. The comments \u201cled to a poisoned workplace\u201d and were \u201cparticularly egregious\u201d given the seniority of Coates and prior discipline for similar comments.<\/p>\n<p>Neilson found the commission\u2019s decision was legally sound in Coates\u2019 case. However, he faulted McFee for mentioning the initial complainant\u2019s suicide in the notice to Coates, finding \u201cno evidence\u201d his conduct played a part.<\/p>\n<figure data-aqa=\"embed-image\"><picture><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/coptoys-l0064-copy.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=xN3nSBvisiYtm4JdpOeR4w, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/coptoys-l0064-copy.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=YsxfU8scSpS_GyQ64m8NAA 2x\" media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\"  type=\"image\/webp\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/coptoys-l0064-copy.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=RdQlTKSwYdCoQ_RdFguKLg, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/coptoys-l0064-copy.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=1sR4ZKUhhPzuofCLnpRDtQ 2x\" media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\"  type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/coptoys-l0064-copy.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=Pje1KygFaDvVZTGCU4QY7Q, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/coptoys-l0064-copy.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=4eUQ2kOpB5JAcCIyYI8X_A 2x\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\"  type=\"image\/webp\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/coptoys-l0064-copy.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=FK3K7_dkTsP6QfK1G7wb7w, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/coptoys-l0064-copy.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=-iMzbJxRF__ATxT8gc0mUQ 2x\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\"  type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/coptoys-l0064-copy.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=IDzif1zMikBQ0Th7TAyhow, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/coptoys-l0064-copy.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=jvssNwEWbbv1i4W41bwiPQ 2x\" media=\"(max-width: 767px)\"  type=\"image\/webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"rick abbott\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/coptoys-l0064-copy.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;sig=FFXcd0NJU0LpTHadVcFMuw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/coptoys-l0064-copy.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;sig=FFXcd0NJU0LpTHadVcFMuw,\n                https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/coptoys-l0064-copy.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;sig=w6VzxuDqOGGzIT9ci254HA 2x\" height=\"750\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1000\"><\/picture><figcaption><span> Sgt. Rick Abbott seen on Sept. 16, 2020. He was later suspended without pay for speaking at a freedom convoy event near the border blockade in Coutts, a decision overturned by the Court of King\u2019s Bench. Greg Southam\/Postmedia, file<\/span> <span>Photo by Greg Southam<\/span> \/<span>00091466A<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Convoy speaker<\/h2>\n<p>The court overturned the unpaid suspension decision in just one of the cases <span>\u2014 <\/span>that of former Staff Sgt. Richard Abbott.<\/p>\n<p>Abbott was filmed speaking at a freedom convoy event in Milk River in early 2022, up the highway from the border blockade in Coutts. The video showed Abbott identifying himself as a police officer and providing advice about the protesters\u2019 \u201clawful placement and the lawful placement of the RCMP officers\u201d at the scene. A Mountie on scene said Abbott handed out business cards and used his position \u201cto lend support to the Freedom Convoy message.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Abbott had previously refused an order to disclose his vaccination status.<\/p>\n<p>The police commission upheld McFee\u2019s decision suspending Abbott without pay, which Neilson took issue with. He found there were several factual errors in McFee\u2019s decision, including misstating that Abbott spoke at the illegal blockade in Coutts rather than a legal freedom convoy event.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe commission ought to have refused to confirm the decision by the chief to relieve Staff Sgt. Abbott from duty without pay and the matter is referred back to the commission for reconsideration,\u201d Neilson wrote. He noted there \u201cmay be an issue as to the jurisdiction\u201d given Abbott is no longer a police officer.<\/p>\n<p>Pat Nugent, lawyer for all three officers, declined to comment.<\/p>\n<p data-async><span data-reader-unique-id=\"173\"><a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"<span \n                data-original-string='tTLk3BEeyi8XNJU\/qAMMTg==7f47ko\/Brc6XByh8IBhlDSGtjSt6QYAN89s7B239+GPPB0='\n                class='apbct-email-encoder'\n                title='This contact has been encoded by Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. Click to decode. 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To finish the decoding make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your browser.'>jw<span class=\"apbct-blur\">********<\/span>@<span class=\"apbct-blur\">*******<\/span>ia.com<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-async><span data-reader-unique-id=\"177\"><a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"x.com\/jonnywakefieldu00a0\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/x.com\/jonnywakefield\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" data-reader-unique-id=\"178\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/jonnywakefield\">x.com\/jonnywakefield\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-async><span data-reader-unique-id=\"181\"><a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"@jonnywakefield.bsky.social\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/jonnywakefield.bsky.social\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" data-reader-unique-id=\"182\" href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/jonnywakefield.bsky.social\">@jonnywakefield.bsky.social<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<section aria-labelledby=\"moreTopicLabel7785843672518585513867939791503360\" data-aqa=\"embed-more-topic\" data-carousel-component data-carousel-icon-button data-carousel-type=\"list\">\n<p>Recommended from Editorial<\/p>\n<ol data-carousel-slide-list tabindex=\"0\">\n<li data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"data_source\": \"data_source\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"widget_title\": \"widget_title\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"target_article_title\": \"target_article_title\", \"target_article_id\": \"target_article_id\", \"target_article_position\": \"target_article_position\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"widget-list\", \"data_source\": \"editorial\", \"anchor_text\": \"An Edmonton police constable was accused of disobeying a peace officer at a traffic stop. The misconduct hearing against him just fell apart\", \"widget_title\": \"recommended-from-editorial\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/news\/crime\/edmonton-police-officer-misconduct-hearing-closed\", \"target_article_title\": \"An Edmonton police constable was accused of disobeying a peace officer at a traffic stop. The misconduct hearing against him just fell apart\", \"target_article_id\": \"24b2c196-d533-413f-8c50-5de8fa79683c\", \"target_article_position\": \"0\", \"layout_section\": \"recommended-from-editorial\"}\" data-carousel-item data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\"><a href=\"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/news\/crime\/edmonton-police-officer-misconduct-hearing-closed\"> <picture><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The corner of Ray Gibbon Drive and McKenny Avenue in St. Albert, where a peace officer attempted to stop an off-duty Edmonton Police Service constable Sept. 22, 2021, for allegedly using his cellphone while driving. According to the peace officer, the constable ignored his commands and drove away. A disciplinary hearing against the officer, Kevin Clark, fell apart Oct. 21, 2024, after the peace officer said he would not complete his testimony.\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ray-gibbon-drive-and-mckenny-ave-1164.jpg?h=96&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=_dBF2CmOjsoQGpzFSOO90A\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ray-gibbon-drive-and-mckenny-ave-1164.jpg?h=96&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=_dBF2CmOjsoQGpzFSOO90A, https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ray-gibbon-drive-and-mckenny-ave-1164.jpg?h=192&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=L34HrwRoh8FJlQWE9b06QA 2x,\n                                             https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ray-gibbon-drive-and-mckenny-ave-1164.jpg?h=288&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=NQFpBJu9HMQChnTLBR1o-A 3x\" height=\"96\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"96\"><\/picture>\n<p><span>An Edmonton police constable was accused of disobeying a peace officer at a traffic stop. The misconduct hearing against him just fell apart<\/span><\/p>\n<p> <\/a><\/li>\n<li data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"data_source\": \"data_source\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"widget_title\": \"widget_title\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"target_article_title\": \"target_article_title\", \"target_article_id\": \"target_article_id\", \"target_article_position\": \"target_article_position\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"widget-list\", \"data_source\": \"editorial\", \"anchor_text\": \"&#038;#39Monster wearing a herou2019s mask&#038;#39: Edmonton police officer pleads guilty to seeking sex from victims he met on the job\", \"widget_title\": \"recommended-from-editorial\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/news\/edmonton-police-hunter-robinz-guilty-sex-victims-of-crime\", \"target_article_title\": \"&#038;#39Monster wearing a herou2019s mask&#038;#39: Edmonton police officer pleads guilty to seeking sex from victims he met on the job\", \"target_article_id\": \"46bb664f-2ea2-45f5-aac5-e93ffcc92ffc\", \"target_article_position\": \"1\", \"layout_section\": \"recommended-from-editorial\"}\" data-carousel-item data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\"><a href=\"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/news\/edmonton-police-hunter-robinz-guilty-sex-victims-of-crime\"> <picture><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A 2016 file photo of Edmonton Police Service Const. Hunter Robinz, who pleaded guilty on Oct. 21, 2024, to a count of breach of trust for using his job to seek sex from women, including witnesss and victims of crime.\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/47366851-pok-mon_go17861-w.jpg?h=96&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=jJ4-lHYUv0FIFw1lfnXF7A\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/47366851-pok-mon_go17861-w.jpg?h=96&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=jJ4-lHYUv0FIFw1lfnXF7A, https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/47366851-pok-mon_go17861-w.jpg?h=192&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=wKimv0CLfU7BLG7N0x0zQA 2x,\n                                             https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/47366851-pok-mon_go17861-w.jpg?h=288&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=3zTVe_DJmYM5mPHFlJl5Rw 3x\" height=\"96\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"96\"><\/picture>\n<p><span>&#8216;Monster wearing a hero\u2019s mask&#8217;: Edmonton police officer pleads guilty to seeking sex from victims he met on the job<\/span><\/p>\n<p> <\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<hr>\n<p data-async><span><b><i>Bookmark our website and support our journalism: <\/i><\/b><i>Don\u2019t miss the news you need to know \u2014 add <\/i><a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"EdmontonJournal.com\", \"target_url\": \"http:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"http:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/\"><i>EdmontonJournal.com<\/i><\/a><\/span><span><i> <\/i><\/span><span><i>and <\/i><a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"EdmontonSun.com\", \"target_url\": \"http:\/\/edmontonsun.com\/\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"http:\/\/edmontonsun.com\/\"><i>EdmontonSun.com<\/i><\/a><i> to your bookmarks and <\/i><a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"sign up for our newsletters\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/newsletters\/\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/newsletters\/\"><i>sign up for our newsletters<\/i><\/a><i>.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-async><span><i>You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. <\/i><a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"The Edmonton Journal\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/subscribe\/\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/subscribe\/\"><i>The Edmonton Journal<\/i><\/a><i> | <\/i><a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"The Edmonton Sun\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/edmontonsun.com\/subscribe\/\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/edmontonsun.com\/subscribe\/\"><i>The Edmonton Sun<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/news\/crime\/court-upholds-unpaid-suspension-of-ex-edmonton-police-officers-accused-of-assault-and-workplace-harassment\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Get the latest from Jonny Wakefield straight to your inbox Published Jan 06, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 6 minute read An Edmonton Police Service vehicle seen in early 2023. In a decision issued Jan. 3, 2025, a Court of King&#8217;s Bench judge upheld unpaid suspensions against two former officers accused of assault and workplace harassment, while overturning<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":824635,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2047,109495],"tags":[5047,109494],"class_list":{"0":"post-824634","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-court","8":"category-upholds","9":"tag-court","10":"tag-upholds"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/824634","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=824634"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/824634\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/824635"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=824634"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=824634"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=824634"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}