The Independent Investigation Unit (IIU) has concluded its investigation into an allegation of the careless storage of a firearm by an RCMP officer while attending a personal appointment at a physiotherapist’s office in Winnipeg.
The alleged incident occurred on November 1, 2019, and the RCMP notified the IIU on November 7, 2019.
According to the allegation, a civilian witness observed an officer’s duty belt and firearm stored behind the receptionist’s desk at the physiotherapy office. The civilian director determined it was in the public interest to investigate the allegation.
IIU investigators obtained the following information during their investigation:
- witness statements from two civilian witnesses
- four photographs of the police equipment in the receptionist area of the physiotherapist’s office
- RCMP cruiser in-car video
- the call history report
- a copy of the complaint to the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission
Upon completion of the investigation, the civilian director forwarded the IIU investigative file to the Manitoba Prosecution Service (MPS) to request a review and opinion on whether any Criminal Code charges should be authorized against the subject officer. Following the review of the IIU investigative file, MPS advised that the matter did not meet the prosecution-charging standard and therefore, there was no purpose in laying any Criminal Code charge.
