A Mountie in BC will keep his job after being found passed out in a cop car in a Burger King drive thru after drunk driving and crashing the vehicle..Const. Blaise Picketts, who was a police dog handler, was allowed to take his vehicle and canine colleague home with him..The RCMP conduct board decision was posted online detailing the events that unfolded in April of 2020..In deciding not to terminate the Mountie, the board noted he was suffering from "undiagnosed and untreated alcohol use disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder at the time.".According to the decision, on his day off, Picketts started drinking at another Mountie's home about 1 p.m. after several officers and their dogs finished up some training exercises..While at the friends house, Picketts made one additional trip to the liquor store in his police SUV around 4 p.m. and "resumed drinking" upon his return..The disciplinary decision said "this is a privilege that he abused, particularly since the dog — along with his police-issued weapon and ammunition — was in the car when he drove drunk on his day off.".According to the documents, "While crossing the Golden Ears Bridge, Constable Picketts scraped his police vehicle on the concrete barrier on the side of the bridge, causing approximately $7,000 in damage to the rear and passenger side of the vehicle.".He didn't leave the friends house until 2 a.m. on the day of the incident.."When he made the decision to consume alcohol, he did so knowing that he was driving his police vehicle, which contained his police service dog and his carbine. He had the option of staying at the house where he was drinking, but chose to drive home," the documents said..The Mountie would drive drunk roughly 25 km to Maple Ridge from the friend's house where he then decided to pull into Burger King for a nap. .An employee at the Burger King thought the Mountie was unconscious, and then tried to wake him for 20 minutes before getting "scared" and calling 911..The board decision said "When officers arrived, they found the vehicle's engine running, Picketts passed out with a credit card in his hand, and an open container of alcohol on the floor of the vehicle.".The documents then say Picketts refused to blow the breathalyzer by biting the straw, turning his head away and "not blowing hard enough," the decision said..After this, things started to turn violent and backup had to be called to help control the drunk Mountie..According to the board he was "verbally abusive and failed to comply with the officers’ directions" and "physically resisted" arrest by being "assaultive." .During the ordeal, the drunk Mountie even sat on his hands so the responding RCMP could not cuff him. He also "lifted his knee quickly in the direction of (one officer's) groin" and he also injured the thumb of another Mountie when grabbing for the handcuffs..Picketts was not working during the incident, still, he was driving his RCMP vehicle.."The risk to the service dog and the visibility of the misconduct to members of the public meant he had committed discreditable conduct that not only breached the standards of behaviour to which officers are held, but also tarnished the reputation of the force and undermined public trust in police," the board said.."Members cannot flout, in their private lives, the very laws they are called upon to enforce," the decision said..The board described the Mountie's behaviour as "reckless" and "very serious," pointing out several times the potential for serious harm..Although the Mountie could have been fired for the incident the board settled on "other disciplinary measures" in light of him being sorry and showing "significant efforts to rehabilitate himself.".For the ordeal, Picketts' was fined the equivalent of 30 days' pay, made to forfeit 15 vacation days, transferred out of the canine unit and made ineligible for promotion for three years. He will also have to undergo medical treatment, which will be monitored..The medical records submitted satisfied the board both that Picketts had medical conditions that were "undiagnosed and untreated at the time" and that he has made "significant strides since by seeking treatment and staying sober."."When a member’s misconduct is caused at least in part by a disability, it is appropriate for a conduct board to consider that disability in determining the appropriate conduct measures," the board concluded.."The failure to do so is contrary to the public interest as it may deprive the public of members who may safely return to make meaningful contributions to the RCMP and the communities it serves. It may also serve to drive members who are facing mental health challenges to hide their conditions and not secure the supports they need to maintain their health."
A Mountie in BC will keep his job after being found passed out in a cop car in a Burger King drive thru after drunk driving and crashing the vehicle..Const. Blaise Picketts, who was a police dog handler, was allowed to take his vehicle and canine colleague home with him..The RCMP conduct board decision was posted online detailing the events that unfolded in April of 2020..In deciding not to terminate the Mountie, the board noted he was suffering from "undiagnosed and untreated alcohol use disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder at the time.".According to the decision, on his day off, Picketts started drinking at another Mountie's home about 1 p.m. after several officers and their dogs finished up some training exercises..While at the friends house, Picketts made one additional trip to the liquor store in his police SUV around 4 p.m. and "resumed drinking" upon his return..The disciplinary decision said "this is a privilege that he abused, particularly since the dog — along with his police-issued weapon and ammunition — was in the car when he drove drunk on his day off.".According to the documents, "While crossing the Golden Ears Bridge, Constable Picketts scraped his police vehicle on the concrete barrier on the side of the bridge, causing approximately $7,000 in damage to the rear and passenger side of the vehicle.".He didn't leave the friends house until 2 a.m. on the day of the incident.."When he made the decision to consume alcohol, he did so knowing that he was driving his police vehicle, which contained his police service dog and his carbine. He had the option of staying at the house where he was drinking, but chose to drive home," the documents said..The Mountie would drive drunk roughly 25 km to Maple Ridge from the friend's house where he then decided to pull into Burger King for a nap. .An employee at the Burger King thought the Mountie was unconscious, and then tried to wake him for 20 minutes before getting "scared" and calling 911..The board decision said "When officers arrived, they found the vehicle's engine running, Picketts passed out with a credit card in his hand, and an open container of alcohol on the floor of the vehicle.".The documents then say Picketts refused to blow the breathalyzer by biting the straw, turning his head away and "not blowing hard enough," the decision said..After this, things started to turn violent and backup had to be called to help control the drunk Mountie..According to the board he was "verbally abusive and failed to comply with the officers’ directions" and "physically resisted" arrest by being "assaultive." .During the ordeal, the drunk Mountie even sat on his hands so the responding RCMP could not cuff him. He also "lifted his knee quickly in the direction of (one officer's) groin" and he also injured the thumb of another Mountie when grabbing for the handcuffs..Picketts was not working during the incident, still, he was driving his RCMP vehicle.."The risk to the service dog and the visibility of the misconduct to members of the public meant he had committed discreditable conduct that not only breached the standards of behaviour to which officers are held, but also tarnished the reputation of the force and undermined public trust in police," the board said.."Members cannot flout, in their private lives, the very laws they are called upon to enforce," the decision said..The board described the Mountie's behaviour as "reckless" and "very serious," pointing out several times the potential for serious harm..Although the Mountie could have been fired for the incident the board settled on "other disciplinary measures" in light of him being sorry and showing "significant efforts to rehabilitate himself.".For the ordeal, Picketts' was fined the equivalent of 30 days' pay, made to forfeit 15 vacation days, transferred out of the canine unit and made ineligible for promotion for three years. He will also have to undergo medical treatment, which will be monitored..The medical records submitted satisfied the board both that Picketts had medical conditions that were "undiagnosed and untreated at the time" and that he has made "significant strides since by seeking treatment and staying sober."."When a member’s misconduct is caused at least in part by a disability, it is appropriate for a conduct board to consider that disability in determining the appropriate conduct measures," the board concluded.."The failure to do so is contrary to the public interest as it may deprive the public of members who may safely return to make meaningful contributions to the RCMP and the communities it serves. It may also serve to drive members who are facing mental health challenges to hide their conditions and not secure the supports they need to maintain their health."
