Alberta team investigating complaint against RNC officer who fatally shot Don Dunphy
ASIRT investigating contact between Smyth and member of the public in May
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary has confirmed that one of its members is being investigated by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT).
CBC News has confirmed that Const. Joe Smyth is the officer the team is investigating.
ASIRT — a group that that independently investigates serious incidents that arise from the actions of police in Alberta — said it's conducting a criminal investigation of a professional misconduct allegation.
An ASIRT official said specifically, the team is looking into contact between an RNC officer and a member of the public in May 2017.
The team has visited the province and since returned to Alberta, where it will prepare a report on the investigation. The investigators have not determined if criminal charges are warranted, and ASIRT doesn't determine the work status of officers it investigates.
Smyth is the police officer who fatally shot Donald Dunphy in his Mitchells Brook home in April 2015.
In 2015, the RCMP were called in to investigate Dunphy's shooting and determined no charges were warranted against Smyth, who maintained he fired his gun in self-defence after Dunphy pointed a rifle at him.
Placed on administrative duty
In a statement issued late Monday afternoon, RNC Chief Joe Boland said "the officer in question has been temporarily placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the ASIRT investigation."
Boland did not provide details on the nature of the complaint that is being investigated.
"I notified the Department Justice and Public Safety and requested that an outside agency conduct the investigation into the complaint. The Department of Justice and Public Safety subsequently requested the assistance of the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT)," he said.
'Has to be taken seriously'
Justice Minister Andrew Parsons weighed in on the issue Monday.
"Whenever something like this comes up involving our police forces, it has to be taken seriously. And the fact that it is referred shows that it is being taken seriously and having an independent investigation done," said Parsons.
Newfoundland and Labrador doesn't have an independent investigative body, but the province is currently preparing to launch its own similar agency.
With files from Mark Quinn