Eileen Mohan, mother of 22 year Chris Mohan, innocent bystander killed in a drug related massacre sits in her Surrey, B.C. home.Lyle Stafford
Two Mounties have been suspended with pay from the team looking into one of the worst cases of gangland violence in Canadian history as a result of an investigation into allegations that a senior officer had an inappropriate relationship with a witness, RCMP say.
A senior Mountie said the situation is a blow to the morale of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, but that officers are carrying on with their investigation of the Surrey Six killings of 2007, in which six men - two of them innocent bystanders - were shot dead in a high-rise.
"They have their eye squarely focused on the ball with respect to this file," Superintendent Janice Armstrong said in an interview.
However, she conceded: "There's definitely a hit to the morale in this particular unit."
The suspensions, announced on Tuesday, involve a sergeant whose alleged relationship prompted the investigation, and a supervising staff sergeant. A corporal is under investigation, but has not been suspended.
"I suppose anything is possible, but there is no indication at this point that there are any other employees that are implicated save for these three officers," Supt. Armstrong said.
Eileen Mohan, whose 22-year-old son Chris Mohan was one of the innocent bystanders, said she has been told by police that the staff sergeant and corporal are under scrutiny because they knew about the alleged inappropriate relationship involving the sergeant, but did nothing about it.
Supt. Armstrong declined comment on this. Police noted that only the sergeant is accused of an inappropriate relationship.
But Ms. Mohan said she remains confident in the investigators, who she said are trying to build the best possible case before the matter goes to court, likely in a few years.
Still, she described the allegations as "heartbreaking" for herself and for the team.
"It has come as a surprise to them also and also an embarrassment," she said. "They have been actually embarrassed, apologetic but very angry and upset about what they have found regarding these three officers."
She said the officers were well regarded in the team. "It has come as a surprise for them," she said of IHIT.
The situation is under investigation by members of the Ontario Provincial Police, who were brought in when the case was first disclosed in February.
Supt. Armstrong said OPP investigators can consider criminal charges in the case, but they have not indicated to the B.C. Mounties they are headed in that direction.
Two of the victims in the Surrey shootings - 55-year-old Ed Schellenberg and Mr. Mohan - were in the wrong place at the wrong time, but the others had gang links.
Dennis Karbovanec, has pleaded guilty to charges including three counts of second-degree murder in the case, while five others still face charges.