Eadie didn’t breach code of conduct when he spent night in drunk tank: police board

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This article was published 18/01/2016 (3608 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Coun. Ross Eadie will be returning to work at the Winnipeg police board.

The board released a statement late Monday afternoon stating its internal investigation found that Eadie had not breached the Manitoba Police Board’s Code of Ethical Conduct when he spent the night in the drunk tank back in November.

“After considering the relevant information before the board….the board determined that Councillor Eadie has not breached the Code, in that his conduct did not discredit or compromise the integrity of the Board,” the board said in its statement.

Eadie (Mynarski) was suspended from the board in mid-November pending an investigation to determine if Eadie breached any of the provisions of the Manitoba Police Board Code of Ethical Conduct.

“I’m just so relieved it’s not going to be in the news anymore,” Eadie told the Free Press. “I’m not going to say anything more.”

Eadie said he met with the board Monday morning in what he described was “a very difficult meeting.” The board formally notified him of its decision just before 4 pm and then issued a public statement an hour later.

Eadie admitted he and a friend had been drinking heavily the night of Nov. 6 and into the early hours of Nov. 7 at several different downtown locations. The friend placed Eadie in a cab where he passed out.

When the cabbie was unable to wake him, police were called and they took him to the Main Street Project to sleep it off. He left on his own later in the morning.

Eadie said he couldn’t remember what he did or said that night but a source told the Free Press Eadie he had been verbally abusive to the police.

A media report stated the police board investigation was triggered by the police union, who complained that they didn’t feel Eadie could no longer be impartial.

Eadie said he’ll be returning to work on the board immediately, adding he has a police board budget meeting to attend Tuesday.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca

Statement from police board

 

Last November, information came to the attention of the Winnipeg Police Board that raised the question of whether or not one of its Board Members, Councillor Ross Eadie, breached The Code of Ethical Conduct for Police Board Members (the Code) during his interactions with the Winnipeg Police Service in the early morning hours of November 7, 2015.

As all Board Members have a responsibility to ensure they and their colleagues are following the Code, the Board determined to inquire into Councillor Eadie’s conduct during those hours. In compliance with section 15 of the Code, Councillor Eadie did not exercise his duties as a member of the Board for the duration of the inquiry. At a private meeting with Councillor Eadie this morning, the Board concluded its inquiry.

After considering the relevant information before the Board, which had been provided to Councillor Eadie in advance of the meeting, and his responses to that information and to the Board members’ questions, the Board determined that Councillor Eadie has not breached the Code, in that his conduct did not discredit or compromise the integrity of the Board.

Winnipeg Police Board Chair Councillor Scott Gillingham had recused himself from participating in this inquiry, to avoid any perception of bias or an improper motive in its pursuit. Upon hearing of the Board’s determination this afternoon, Councillor Gillingham expressed his appreciation to the Board for diligently, properly, and fairly carrying out their responsibilities to inquire into and determine this matter.

Councillor Gillingham, along with all of Councillor Eadie’s colleagues on the Board, look forward to him resuming his valuable contributions to the work of the Board.