“I believe it is important to address some of the questions and comments to help further clarify what happened and why,” said Betts.
Constable Mackenzie Rogers resigned after pleading guilty to criminal charges laid against him in September in court on Wednesday. He was charged with two counts of breach of trust and possession of stolen property obtained by crime and pleaded guilty to the latter.
Betts first addresses how the Peterborough Police would have input on the guilty plea process.
“As Chief, I was advised that there was a possible resolution via a guilty plea, and although I was not aware to what charge Mr. Rogers would plead guilty to, I was agreeable to it, so long as it meant he would resign from the Peterborough Police Service. This would negate the need for a lengthy Police Hearing which would have potentially dragged on for several more years,” said Betts. “Would I have preferred that his plea was for one of the other charges? Yes; however, as my primary concern was that he no longer be employed as a police officer, I was accepting of a guilty plea on any charge so long as he resigned. This was ultimately in the best interest of the public.”
Betts would clarify why Rogers's case resulted in a guilty plea rather than a trial.
“I believe the OPP had a strong case and would have supported a trial,” said the Police Chief. “This option is costly and as the main goal was that Mr. Rogers no longer be employed as a police officer, it was most appropriate that this decision be made. The nature of the charges did not directly impact any member of the public.”
Rogers was suspended with pay during the investigation and is entitled to the pension that he paid into. Both were considered legal and lawful for him to obtain, according to Betts.
“Because of the limitations of the Community Safety and Policing Act, I was not lawfully able to suspend Mr. Rogers without pay. As detestable as some will find that, it is the law,” he explained. “Therefore, every day he remained a police officer, he was being paid a salary – that could have continued through a lengthy trial and an even longer Police Act hearing, both of which were available options to him as part of the Judicial process. In my view, stopping that from continuing was in the greater public interest.”
Since Rogers has resigned and no longer is a member of the Peterborough Police Service, Betts said a police hearing is not being conducted.
“Any internal Police investigation and process cannot proceed until all Court proceedings (and possible appeal) have been concluded,” he explained. “This resolution (resignation and guilty plea) served the interest of Mr. Rogers and the Peterborough Police Service. But it ultimately serves the financial interest, in terms of cost-avoidance, of the taxpayer. Had it not gone this route, as Chief, I was prepared to seek termination through the discipline process.”
Betts denied any public allegations that Rogers received favourable treatment due to his seven-year tenure with the Peterborough Police Service.
“I would say to any member of the public believes that, that they are misinformed as to how the Justice System works,” stated Betts. “Guilty pleas are part of the system and a regular means by which many criminal cases are resolved. Mr. Rogers was before the courts as a police officer, but he was treated as any other citizen facing criminal charges would be treated.”
Betts argues that Rogers’s future is up in the air because this conviction means he will never practice law enforcement again.
“In fact, he faced greater jeopardy, because he ultimately lost his job. There are very few professions where someone will lose their job because of a criminal conviction for this offence or the others,” he stated. “Police officers should be held to a greater level of accountability, and this outcome demonstrates the seriousness of that – he will never become a police officer again. The same could not be said for most other professions. A conviction will be registered; he is no longer a police officer; he is no longer being paid with tax dollars; the process ultimately saved time and money.”
The Peterborough Police Chief concluded that the OPP conducted the investigation and that, if there was more to the case, it would be ongoing.
“The Peterborough Police Service learned of the initial allegations and turned all further responsibility to them (OPP). As Chief, I have utmost confidence in their investigators and that if there were ongoing concerns, they would still be investigating.”
