Cranbrook constable charged with theft

A RCMP constable in Cranbrook has been charged with theft while on duty Chief Superintendent Mike Sekela announced Tuesday.

Const. Bryden Hennessey, who resigned in December, was charged by Regional Crown Council in Cranbrook with one count of Theft Under $5000.

Hennessey will appear before the courts Monday, Feb. 6.

The charge resulted from an Internal Code of Conduct investigation in October of 2011 that was initiated against a Const. Hennessey regarding his handling of property seized while he was on duty.

Const. Hennessey was immediately removed from operations pending the Code of Conduct investigation.

Within three weeks, the Code of Conduct investigation substantiated the allegation that Const. Hennessey had stolen a computer.

His gun and badge were seized and Const. Hennessey was then suspended from duty and served with a Notice of Stoppage of Pay.

Sekela said while disappointing, this case was handled decisively and promptly and is consistent with the manner in which incidents of this nature, should they occur, will be handled in the future.

“I have stated before that allegations of misconduct by our members are extremely troubling,” Sekela said “Troubling to the public and troubling to me . . . but also troubling to the over 9,000 RCMP employees in BC who have the highest moral and ethical standards.”