The Independent Investigations Office has cleared a Quesnel RCMP officer of any criminal wrongdoing after a fellow officer fractured an ankle during some horseplay between the two at a house party.
The two were off duty on the evening of July 20 when they were among the 30 to 40 people who attended a promotion party hosted by a Quesnel RCMP employee.
The incident was reported to the IIO three days later, and the civilian-based watchdog, which investigates incidents of police-involved death or serious injury for any criminal wrongdoing, concluded the matter was within its purview.
In a report issued this week, IIO chief civilian director Richard Rosenthal said the two are friends and had worked together on the same watch for several years.
"During the party, both officers engaged in what was described as mutual, consensual physical horseplay," Rosenthal said. "The injured officer stated that 'we are very rough with each other... that's basically how we are.'"
The injured officer also said he was intoxicated at the time and recalled that after he had punched his friend, his friend came over and put him in a hug. This caused them both to fall to the ground and the ankle was fractured.
"The injured officer was clear that the physical horseplay was consensual," Rosenthal said. "He understood why the matter needed to be investigated by the IIO but maintained the injury was accidental."
At issue was whether an assault had taken place and Rosenthal concluded that was not the case.
"There is no reason to believe that the physical actions that took place during the course of this incident were anything other than consensual," Rosenthal said.
