Assault charges have been laid against three Calgary police officers after an investigation into two separate on-duty incidents.
In one incident on Dec. 14, 2008, two four-year veteran officers, in a marked police unit conducting a traffic stop in the city’s southeast, were allegedly involved in a physical altercation with a driver.
The driver, a 50-year-old male, lodged a formal complaint.
The second incident also involved a traffic stop on April 17, 2009, in the northeast. An alleged physical altercation occurred between the officer and a driver — a 73-year-old male — resulting in the Tasering of the driver, police said.
The Edmonton Crown prosecutor’s office made recommendations on charges after internal investigations of both incidents.
Deputy Chief Al Redford couldn’t provide many further details because the matter is before the courts, but he said officers are often faced with split-second decisions.
“I am totally confident that none of these three officers reported for duty on the material days with the intention of committing a criminal offence,” said Redford.
Redford also said the police are working with the Calgary and Edmonton Crown prosecutors to expedite police-complaint investigations in the future.
The officers involved were not named because the incidents occurred while on duty.
