28°c Partly cloudy
18°c Cloudy periods
The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION
Mountie in charge of Mayerthorpe detachment when 4 RCMP killed faces charges
SPRUCE GROVE, Alta. - A Mountie who was in command of the detachment in Mayerthorpe, Alta., on the day four officers were gunned down in 2005 faces unrelated criminal charges.
Sgt. Jim Martin of Spruce Grove, Alta., has been charged with two counts of fraud and two counts of breach of trust.
Martin is accused of using RCMP credit cards to buy personal items.
Insp. Gary Graham, Martin's detachment commander, said the charges against the 23-year veteran are tough on the RCMP community.
"You know we are frustrated and embarrassed because it is at two levels. He does have personal relationships with us, but he also has a public corporate relationship," Graham said Tuesday.
"These kind of allegations never sit well."
Martin has been suspended with pay pending resolution of the charges and faces an internal RCMP code of conduct investigation.
He was a corporal in charge of the Mayerthorpe detachment on March 3, 2005, when gunman James Roszko shot constables Peter Schiemann, Brock Myrol, Anthony Gordon and Leo Johnston.
Roszko killed himself with his own gun after being wounded by another RCMP officer.
In 2011, Martin told an inquiry into the officers' deaths that the RCMP knew that Roszko had violent tendencies. He also testified that he had no reservations about deploying the four men to the remote farm where they were shot.
Graham said Martin was to be promoted to the rank of inspector and transferred to Vancouver Island to take command of the Port Alberni RCMP detachment. He is originally from Nanaimo, B.C..
Graham said the promotion and transfer have been cancelled.
"This is a member (who) up until this report ... really had been a member in good standing and someone well thought of in the organization."
Martin is to make his first appearance in Stony Plain provincial court Jan. 30.
— By John Cotter in Edmonton
More FP News Top Story
- Back to Top
- Return to FP News Top Story
More FP News Top Story
(1 of 50 articles for this year)
Harper assailed for cutting Elections Canada budget despite vote problems
05/1/2013 5:40 PM 0
Poll
Most Popular FP News Top Story
- Pakistani model's tattooed nude photo in Indian magazine causes uproar
- Dates set for recreational food fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador
- PM Harper, Justin Trudeau shoot blanks in first parliamentary duel
- Newest adaptation of classic 'Star Wars' film will feature characters speaking Navajo language
- Anti-prostitution laws targeted at Pickton inquiry, not failed police probe
- Canadian submarine HMCS Windsor slowly lowered into Halifax harbour
- Stop those Nazi salutes at Quebec student protests: B'nai Brith
- Retired Toronto teacher, husband found slain in their Florida home
- American-US Airways merger could jeopardize major hub airports, as mega airline consolidates
- EU Commission sees excessive economic imbalances in Spain and Slovenia, warns France
- Harper government has no plans to sell Via Rail: Transport spokesman
- Dates set for recreational food fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador
- American-US Airways merger could jeopardize major hub airports, as mega airline consolidates
- Pakistani model's tattooed nude photo in Indian magazine causes uproar
- CGI establishes Ottawa centre focused on cyber security for businesses
- US couple flees house infested with garter snakes, describe living in a 'horror movie'
- Canadian submarine HMCS Windsor slowly lowered into Halifax harbour
- Afghan army gives donated rifles back to Canada in favour of U.S. weapons
- PM Harper, Justin Trudeau shoot blanks in first parliamentary duel
- Israeli archaeologists discover ancient clay seal in Jerusalem, suggest link to Temple ritual
- Dates set for recreational food fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Pakistani model's tattooed nude photo in Indian magazine causes uproar
- Harper government has no plans to sell Via Rail: Transport spokesman
- Israeli archaeologists discover ancient clay seal in Jerusalem, suggest link to Temple ritual
- Unidentified victims of Bangladesh collapse buried as more graves are readied; toll now 420
- Pressure grows to improve human rights for transgender people in Newfoundland
- Police: Boston Marathon bomb suspect fired shots from boat, hospitalized in serious condition
- In unusual pattern, Oklahoma tornado tracked path of 1999 monster twister with record winds
- Ten years after 9-11, Canada-U.S. relationship has both trouble spots and bright spots
- US couple flees house infested with garter snakes, describe living in a 'horror movie'
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?
Login SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.