Nunavik government approves out-of-court deal for dismissed senior cop

Tristan Greene addresses KRG meetings in November 2010, while he was serving as the KRPF’s interim deputy chief. (PHOTO BY SARAH ROGERS)

The Kativik Regional Government has approved an out-of-court settlement with a former Kativik Regional Police Force senior officer.

To finalize that settlement, KRG councillors had to vote Feb. 25 to revoke its 2015 decision to dismiss the KRPF’s former deputy chief, Tristan Greene, during an in-camera session.

The KRG terminated Greene’s position in February 2015 following an internal investigation into an incident in which Greene was alleged to have displayed unruly and dangerous behaviour.

On Oct. 12, 2012, Greene is alleged to have been drinking to excess in a way that discredited the KRPF, while neglecting to maintain his service weapon.

Greene has denied both allegations, saying he was at home and off-duty with his common-law partner during the evening in question.

Quebec’s provincial police initially investigated and the Crown decided not to press criminal charges. But the KRPF’s internal disciplinary committee looked at the charges over a two-year period, and concluded that Greene’s behaviour warranted dismissal.

Under the KRPF’s code of internal discipline, however, the committee’s decision cannot be implemented if a request for review is submitted to the police chief within 15 calendar days, Greene argued in a March 2015 notice of appeal.

The notice of appeal also said Greene never received a letter or any documentation indicating the force intended to dismiss him, rendering his dismissal “ill-founded.”

The appeal additionally ordered the KRG to reinstate Greene as deputy chief and pay him an indemnity for the salary he would have received since his dismissal, plus benefits.

The KRG has not publicly commented on the appeal nor the settlement.

Greene was first hired by the KRPF in 2004, promoted to captain in 2008 and to deputy chief in 2010. He no longer resides in Nunavik.