Fired Prince Albert officer wins job back

A Prince Albert police officer who was fired for trying to prosecute a traffic ticket on his own has won reinstatement, a hearing officer has ordered.

Patrick Robin, 37, who was a constable when he was fired, had issued a ticket to an erratic driver on June 15, 2009.

The local Crown prosecutor, however, thought the charge might not succeed in court and did not want to take it forward.

Robin took it upon himself to present a case and when the chief of police found out, the officer was dismissed.

Robin appealed the firing and a lengthy hearing was conducted in 2010.

After hearing several witnesses, including Robin, a hearing officer decided dismissal was too harsh a penalty.

Instead, Anne Wallace ordered a nine-month suspension without pay.

'Robin must learn to abide by policy and respect the chain of command. —Hearing Officer, Anne Wallace

"Robin's misconduct was very serious and calls for a very serious penalty," Wallace said, noting Robin was genuinely sorry for what he tried to do.

"Robin should ... be given a chance to demonstrate that he is suitable for police service," she added in a 90-page written decision issued Wednesday.

"A lengthy suspension and other remedial measure may well be the wake-up call Robin needs," she said.

Officer adamant about ticket

According to Wallace's decision, Robin should have known that Prince Albert police policy does not allow for officers to prosecute matters.

She noted that Robin was adamant the ticket he issued was valid and "convinced himself that justice required the ... case be prosecuted".

"Much of what Robin did was insubordinate," Wallace said, noting "Robin must learn to abide by policy and respect the chain of command."

"Whether or not this is something that occurs is within Robin's control," she concluded.