Chief Clive Weighill addresses new Saskatoon Police grads earlier this year. Photo courtesy @SaskatoonPolice on Twitter
A victim impact statement from Saskatoon police was read in court on Monday before a man was sentenced to four months in jail for making false allegations against the department.
Back in January of 2013, Dustin Keegan Eagle claimed police drove him out of town, took his coat and shoes and left him to walk home in -30 C weather.
About a year later he admitted he made the whole thing up, but never explained why.
Saskatoon Police Chief Clive Weighill says a lot of time and effort was expended to disprove the allegations.
“Well, several hundred hours of investigative time were exhausted to conclude a very thorough investigation,” he said. “We worked very closely with the provincial complaints commission and the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations special investigative unit.”
On Monday, Eagle pleaded guilty to mischief charges in Saskatoon Provincial Court and was sentenced to an additional four months in jail. He is already serving a four-year term on charges of assaulting a police officer and possessing a weapon.
Chief Weighill says these type of incidents have a major impact on morale and hinders the department’s efforts to re-build trust with the aboriginal community.
“We have spent years rebuilding our reputation and trust in the aboriginal community,” he said. “We have in the past, and we will in the future, work with the provincial complaints commission and the FSIN to ensure all of the allegations against the department receive a high caliber level of investigation.”
There was a similar incident in Regina about a year ago. In that case a young woman claimed she was driven out of town and stripped of her coat and boots before being taken to the drunk tank.
Her allegations also turned out to be false, but no charges were ever laid.