New Brunswick’s police watchdog is investigating alleged interference by two RCMP officers in an impaired driving investigation.
The Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) said it was asked by the RCMP to look into the matter last week.
A Justice and Public Safety peace officer had arrested a man for impaired driving near Henderson Settlement in February.
SiRT said a Sussex RCMP officer known to the man is believed to have used their role to influence the outcome of the investigation.
Senior leadership became aware of the allegation on June 18 and contacted the independent watchdog the following day.
SiRT said a second officer from the Caledonia RCMP detachment is also alleged to have tried to influence the investigation.
“Due to the seriousness of the allegations and in the public interest, SiRT has assumed responsibility for this investigation,” the watchdog said in a news release on Wednesday.
SiRT investigates all matters that involve death, serious injury, sexual assault and intimate partner violence, or other matters of public interest that may have arisen from the actions of any New Brunswick police officer.
