Former KRPF Officer Worked As Supply Teacher During Suspension

A former Kennebecasis regional police officer worked as a supply teacher while he was suspended from the force amid inappropriate conduct allegations involving a civilian employee.

The Anglophone South School District confirmed Tuesday that Jeff Porter, known to them as Herman Porter, was a supply teacher from Sept. 2019 until Feb. 2020.

At that point, he had already been suspended from the force with pay for more than three years awaiting an arbitration hearing.

In a statement, the district said it has procedures in place “to ensure appropriate screening is carried out for staff.”

“Reference checks are conducted and, among other questions about performance and qualifications, references are asked if they are aware of any inappropriate conduct or criminal action by the candidates,” said the statement.

All applicants are screened by human resources for suitability and investigated to ensure the safety of staff and students prior to hiring, said the statement.

Any individual applying for a job with the district must also undergo criminal record checks and vulnerable sector record checks.

“We would not hire a candidate if it were made known to us that that individual [was] under investigation in any capacity, be it self-disclosure or information provided by a reference or otherwise, and when or if new information comes to light regarding an employee … we would not hesitate to end our employment of that individual,” said the statement.

“ASD-S carries out full investigations of unprofessional behaviour and violations of employment standards and we enforce appropriate consequences regardless of on-going criminal investigations and possible charges.”

Porter Suspended For More Than Three Years

Porter was suspended from the Kennebecasis Regional Police Force in June 2016 after a complaint was filed by a female civilian employee alleging “various incidents of inappropriate conduct.”

An investigative report presented to the New Brunswick Police Commission in June 2018 identified 16 specific allegations of misconduct by Porter.

The commission scheduled a settlement conference in September 2018, but after the parties failed to reach an agreement, an arbitration hearing was launched the following month.

In the meantime, Porter sought a judicial review of the case, arguing he was not served with a notice of settlement conference within the six-month time limit.

But a Court of Queen’s Bench judge declined the judicial review in February 2020, saying Porter “failed to establish any exceptional circumstances that would justify judicial intervention before the administrative process has been completed.”

Porter retired from the force as of Dec. 31, 2020 — the same day the commission held a “brief procedural call” related to the case. An arbitrator determined that because Porter is no longer a member of a police force, they no longer have jurisdiction to hear the complaint.

Under the Police Act, the commission no longer has authority over an officer once they leave the force.

Our newsroom was the first to report in November that the ongoing matter involving Porter has cost taxpayers in Quispamsis and Rothesay more than $1 million so far.