Former deputy police chief appeals 'Memegate' sanctions, says officers should have been dismissed
Scott Woods, former deputy and interim police chief, says sanctions for the Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) "Memegate" scandal should have been more severe and the officers should have been dismissed.
Woods appealed the punishments handed down on Wednesday.
In 2018, Edmonton police began investigating five Lethbridge officers accused of being part of the 'Meme Milita'.
The officers involved created and circulated profane, abusive and insulting memes of their superiors, including Woods, and various community members using work cellphones while on the job.
After a professional-conduct hearing in 2021, five officers were charged with misconduct.
Two of the officers, Matthew Rilkoff and David Easter, pleaded guilty to four counts including insubordination and neglect of duty.
The officers were demoted by two grades, resulting in a $15,000 salary decrease.
In his appeal submission, Woods says records would show the officers actually made money through time owed and paid vacation.
He also said the case law is outdated and facts were left out of the sentencing report.
The officers' representative disputes calls for their dismissal and says the appeal itself should be dismissed.
LPS counsel, representing the chief, agreed, saying the prior sanctions were more than enough for the two officers.
Two other officers resigned before their disciplinary hearings. Another was dismissed.
All of the memes have been sealed to prevent re-victimizing the subjects of the texts.
The Law Enforcement Review Board will take all submissions into account and will return with a decision within the next 60 days.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Blaine Higgs 'furious' over sexual education presentation
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has shared his anger on social media over a presentation in at least four high schools.
Grayson Murray's parents say the two-time PGA Tour winner died of suicide
Grayson Murray's parents said Sunday their 30-year-old son took his own life, just one day after he withdrew from a PGA Tour event.
The dreams of a 60-year-old beauty contestant come to an abrupt end in Argentina
A 60-year-old woman saw her dreams of becoming the oldest Miss Universe contestant in history melt away in a haze of sequins and selfies Saturday at Argentina’s annual beauty pageant.
2 died in plane crash near Squamish, B.C., police confirm
Two people died after a plane went down in a remote area near Squamish, B.C. on Friday, authorities have confirmed.
Kingston, Ont. tenants fed up with lack of action from landlord over broken floor tiles
Joel Felder and Misti Pitcher have been living in their apartment in Kingston, Ont. for over two years, but the past 12 months have been miserable.
Driver, 18, gets $3,000 ticket, 32 demerit points after speeding on Laval boulevard
A young driver received a hefty fine from Laval police after they say he was driving nearly 100 km/h over the posted speed limit.
Are you a loud snorer? You could have sleep apnea
You'll have a lot more energy throughout the day if you get a good night's sleep, but not everyone does due to a medical condition.
At least 15 dead after severe weather carves path of ruin across multiple U.S. states in the South
Powerful storms killed at least 15 people and left a wide trail of destruction Sunday across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas during the latest deadly weather to strike the central U.S.
North Korea informs Japan of a plan to launch military spy satellite
North Korea has told Japan it plans to launch a satellite by early next week, an apparent effort to put its second military spy satellite into orbit.