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FREDERICTON — The RCMP says it is investigating whether two of its officers in New Brunswick breached their code of conduct, in relation to an impaired driving investigation into the son of one of the officers.
A police oversight agency has concluded that the two RCMP officers involved did not commit a crime, but the New Brunswick RCMP said Wednesday its professional standards unit is conducting its own probe.
The Serious Incident Response Team, the police watchdog for New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, says it investigated what happened after an RCMP officer’s son was in a motor vehicle accident in February 2025 that resulted in a driving suspension and an impaired driving investigation.
While this investigation was ongoing, the watchdog said the officer spoke to Justice and Public Safety employees who were working on the file in an attempt to try to “resolve and address issues with his son’s file.”
Throughout this conversation he “stated he was an RCMP officer, and referenced his rank and experience, despite being directed by supervisors not to act in his capacity as an officer when assisting his son with this matter,” the agency’s report said.
The oversight agency determined that while the officer had a personal interest in his son’s investigation, his actions were not dishonest, corrupt or oppressive.
A New Brunswick RCMP spokesperson said this officer was placed on administrative duties on Sept. 18 as a result of the investigation. Cpl. Hans Ouellette did not immediately respond when asked if the officer was back to regular duties now that the police oversight agency’s investigation has concluded.
Ouellette said in an email police cannot comment on the watchdog’s findings, but noted that “RCMP members are expected to hold themselves to a high moral and professional standard.”
“We understand and respect the impact it can have on public trust when there is any allegation that a member has not met the standard that our communities deserve,” Ouellette said.
The watchdog also confirmed that another RCMP officer got involved in the case, providing an unauthorized case analysis of the driving incident. He is also being investigated by the Mounties internal professional standards unit, but remains on active duty.
Justice and Public Safety contacted the Mounties regarding their concerns with the officer’s communication and the case analysis last June, and the RCMP referred the matter to the police watchdog.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 28, 2026.
— By Lyndsay Armstrong in Halifax.
The Canadian Press
