Sage steps back from police board

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This article was published 10/10/2019 (2221 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

City manager Rod Sage will be “stepping back” from the Brandon Police Board after the province announced they’d be stepping up — ordering the RCMP review both the circumstances surrounding the death of a woman who lived in his home and the subsequent Brandon police investigation. 

In a memo sent to the Brandon Police Board on Thursday, Sage announced he would be removing himself immediately from the board and delegating his advisory function to Dean Hammond, city treasurer and general manager of corporate services. 

“As the Chair Mark Sefton has been advising, various media articles have been published this week regarding my private life. Of these articles … my role on the Police Board has come into question, and more recently the independent RCMP investigation,” Sage wrote in the memo. 

“I recognize the power of public perception and the roles we play in the eyes of citizens. I do not wish to compromise the role of the Police Board nor the valuable service it provides to our community. … I’m confident that Dean will provide administrative support to the Police Board during this period until such time the board has a chance to review this matter and determine a future course of action.”

The decision followed the Attorney General’s announcement that the RCMP are now conducting a review into the circumstances of the death of Christine Robin Mitchell — who was living in Sage’s home when she died suddenly of a suspected overdose in July — as well as BPS’s investigation. 

Mitchell, 30, had been residing at Sage’s home for almost five years, according to a CBC report on Wednesday. She was taken to hospital for a suspected overdose on July 10, and later died in hospital. 

Police became aware of Mitchell’s death on July 11 from a member of the public, Brandon Police Service Sgt. Kirby Sararas said, and opened an investigation immediately. 

The investigation is ongoing and BPS is unable to disclose any details, such as whether there are any allegations of criminal wrongdoing. 

Police also conducted a search of Sage’s house for guns last year, Sararas said, after receiving information.

No search warrant was issued as Sage was co-operative with police. No guns were found and no charges were laid against him. 

The request for review was made on Oct. 4, according to a spokesperson for the Attorney General, almost three months after Mitchell’s death. 

Brandon Police Chief Wayne Balcaen said he had discussions with Manitoba Justice last week regarding the investigation and the most appropriate way to proceed. 

“We felt, for openness and transparency, it would be in the best interest of both the minister’s office as well as the Brandon Police Service to have this reviewed by an independent, third-party, non-involved police entity,” Balcaen said. “I think having an independent police service look at this will help the community feel that the proper mechanisms are in place for oversight and transparency, so they can see that our investigation was done properly and thoroughly.”

Mayor Rick Chrest also said that having an independent set of eyes on the investigation was “most welcome.”

“It’s good news. I have great faith in our Brandon Police Service but in the interest of public transparency and accountability, I’m extremely happy that we do have independent oversight of the process,” Chrest said. “It will help myself, council, and — most importantly — the public have great confidence in the process.”

Chrest also supported Sage’s decision to remove himself from the board while the investigation and RCMP review take place.

“We know that functionally there really wasn’t any conflict,” Chrest said. “But for the optics and transparency, it will be a good move. We want the public to have full confidence in the system as we deal with this thoroughly and properly.”

Police board chair Mark Sefton also applauded Sage’s decision, noting the board will be able to continue as normal since Sage was a non-voting member. 

Justice Minister and Attorney General Cliff Cullen addressed the review with reporters in Winnipeg on Thursday.

“I have tremendous confidence in the RCMP in the province of Manitoba. That’s why we’ve asked them to do a review of the circumstances around that situation,” Cullen later told reporters.

 

» edebooy@brandonsun.com, with files from Drew May 

» Twitter: @erindebooy