It’s been 21 months since the Barrhead RCMP launched a fraud investigation into the expense accounts of a former employee with the Pembina Hills school division, and so far no resolution has been reached.
The investigation was first started on Nov. 5, 2010, shortly after former PHRD Supt. Richard Harvey left his post without any explanation. Since that time, RCMP have been investigating while remaining tightlipped on their progress.
“We will be able to advise in due course on anything new as the investigation is moved forward,” said Staff Sgt. Shawn Lemay with ‘K’ Division media relations, who spoke on behalf of the RCMP after Barrhead Sgt. Bob Dodds refused to comment on the status of the investigation.
Lemay added that after speaking with Barrhead Cpl. Darryl Lutz, the file remains in the Barrhead detachment’s hands.
“It’s my understanding, and what he shared with me is, yes, the file is there and there’s no new information to share at this time,” he said.
This revelation is surprising given that in August 2011, Dodds had told the Westlock News that the file had been handed over to the Crown prosecutor’s office to determine if any charges would be laid.
However, in December 2011, chief Crown prosecutor Jeff Morrison stated that had not happened and his office had received no report. He added that the normal course of action is for the RCMP to decide whether or not charges are to be laid, although the Crown prosecutor’s office can provide advice if requested.
“The decision to lay charges or not rests solely with the RCMP,” he said at the time.
In March 2012, Dodds told the Barrhead Leader and Westlock News that investigation remained in the hands of the Commercial Crimes Unit in Edmonton, but was unable to forecast when the investigation would be wrapped up.
He also said at the time that he was slightly concerned that the investigation was still active. “It’s taken a lot longer than what I had hoped it would, but it’s in the right hands,” he said.
The story of a problem at the division’s head office came to light in October 2010 when the Westlock News learned former Supt. Richard Harvey had left his post with the division Oct. 25, two months earlier than his scheduled retirement date.
Division officials issued a one-line media release stating that as of Oct. 25, Harvey was no longer an employee of the division, and declined to elaborate further.
Colleen Symyrozum-Watt, who was then the division’s deputy Supt., would not comment on the fraud investigation except to say that about 750 Pembina Hills employees have expense accounts. Dodds has said previously that as is the case with any active investigation, names would be released only if charges are laid.
• With files from Doug Neuman.
