Lethbridge police officers demoted in 'MemeGate' misconduct case
Senior constables David Easter and Matthew Rilkoff, who previously pleaded guilty to misconduct charges, have been demoted in rank to first class constables for one year.
The sanctions were handed down earlier Tuesday afternoon during the continuation of a disciplinary hearing.
The demotions take effect Dec. 1 and result in a $15,000 decrease in salary.
On Nov. 2, 2021 the officers entered guilty pleas under the Police Act and Police Service Regulation to the following counts:
- The use of profane, abusive or insulting language toward a member of a police service or the public;
- Insubordination through words or actions;
- Neglect of duty by failing to report a matter that was their duty to report; and,
- Abetting or knowingly being an accessory to a contravention by another peace officer.
At the time, a joint submission for a demotion in rank was put forward and on Nov. 30, the presiding officer demoted both the officers by two grades.
CLEAR MESSAGE SENT
Criminology expert and lecturer Ritesh Narayan believes a strict punishment sends a clear message.
"One of the things that one must pay a lot of attention to is what kind of precedent the punishment will set," he told CTV News.
"Like if the sentencing, the punishment, has denunciation ideology behind it as being clearly punitive."
Easter and Rilkoff were two of five officers who took part in a group chat back in 2018 called the "Meme Militia" that shared offensive photos, sometimes using their work phones.
They not only targeted high-ranking LPS members, but also poked fun at mental and physical disabilities.
The officers were suspended with pay in March of 2021.
In June, all five pleaded not guilty to a total of 32 misconduct charges.
TAKEN A TOLL
The situation has undoubtedly taken its toll on the force.
"What they have done has definitely affected the integrity of the police agency and integrity is very fundamental in justifying the legitimacy of policing," said Narayan.
Three additional officers were also charged with misconduct in the matter.
Sgt. Jason Moulding pleaded guilty to five of six charges he faces.
His hearing will continue on Jan. 10.
Const. Keon Woronuk and Derek Riddell have since resigned from the LPS and are expected to make the official announcement at a future hearing proceeding.
In order to maintain the integrity of the ongoing process, the LPS has said they will not provide any further comment at this time.
Once the hearings have finished, police will be available for comment and an update outlining all the sanctions will be provided to the public on the LPS website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.