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RCMP Conduct Hearing Nears Decision as Counsel Decries 'Ghastly' Messages by Coquitlam Mounties

The adjudicator will deliver a decision on Nov. 7.

Overview

  • Closing submissions continued Wednesday, with the RCMP conduct authority arguing the three constables committed discrimination, harassment and discreditable conduct.
  • Defence counsel acknowledged some messages breached the code but argued the investigation was biased and said private Signal chats on personal phones fall outside disciplinary reach absent demonstrated workplace impact.
  • Evidence cited includes messages sent on duty via police mobile data terminals and explicit remarks in a group chat about members of the public and colleagues.
  • The officers are identified as Constables Ian Solven, Mersad Mesbah and Philip Dick, who face possible dismissal and have been on paid leave since 2021.
  • Defence lawyers said the ruling could set a precedent for how police forces treat off‑duty digital communications, noting the RCMP lacks a specific policy on group chats.