Probe calls violent incidents detailed in former officer's police book 'a work of fiction'

A probe by Alberta's police watchdog has concluded that a former Calgary police officer who wrote a book inspired by real police events used "literary licence" to exaggerate what happened, and found he did not commit the offences outlined in a book he wrote years ago.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) launched its investigation in 2017, looking into violent incidents detailed in The Wolf and the Sheepdog. The book was written by former Calgary police constable John Brix-Maffei under a pen name. 

ASIRT's findings, released Friday, said it was represented to the public that the book was a work of non-fiction and a true account of incidents that the author participated in as a police officer in Calgary. 

It found "while aspects of the book are based in reality," it is "clearly a work of fiction." 

ASIRT identified three chapters that appeared to relate to actual case files with the Calgary Police Service. 

During the investigation, ASIRT gathered witness statements from other police officers, initial police reports and related documents. 

"[The subject officer] exaggerates and embellishes what occurred in these incidents. What is very problematic is that these fabrications occur in passages where [he] glorifies violence against members of the public, violence that if true would very likely have been criminal," the report said. 

After the book was published, an Edmonton attorney sent a letter to Alberta's justice minister and the director of law enforcement asking for ASIRT to be called in over concerning passages like this one:

"My left fist slams into his face causing his nose to bend and suddenly pop under the force."

"My right fist lines up for a second blow."

On Friday, ASIRT said the writing in the novel, if accepted by the public as true, serves to create an atmosphere of distrust and fear between the police and the public, which it is sworn to serve.

"It appears that [the subject officer] used literary licence to exaggerate aspects of the files investigated by ASIRT. There is no basis to use the book as evidence that any offences occurred by any officers described therein," the report read. 

Brix-Maffei's lawyer, Alain Hepner, said he's "pleased that ASIRT interpreted the story the way I did as well."

"He'll be relieved the ASIRT investigation is done."

CBC News previously reported that the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service was so concerned with Brix-Maffei's writings, a decision was made in 2011 that he could not testify at any trial, which meant CPS could never again allow him to patrol Calgary's streets.

He resigned from the force in 2013.

ASIRT investigates serious allegations of police misconduct and when death or serious injury may have been caused by police.