Colley-Urquhart surprises police commission with resignation after complaints released

Ward 13 Councillor Diane Colley-Urquhart has quit the Calgary Police Commission as a commissioner a day after the commission announced there had been complaints against her for possibly breaking the code of conduct.

In a statement to 660 NEWS, the commission said they received the resignation Tuesday.

“Though this resignation comes as a surprise, we would like to thank Councillor Colley-Urquhart for 10 years of service to Commission,” commission chair Brian Thiessen said. “Councillor Colley-Urquhart brought significant expertise and a passion for public safety. We valued her perspective and contribution and wish her the best of luck.”

Colley-Urquhart has gone public about her secretly meeting with female officers who have claimed harassment, bullying and other mistreatment while in the force.

On Jan. 31, Cst. Jen Ward gave a tearful resignation citing such reasons, although it wasn’t accepted by Chief Roger Chaffin, who said he wanted to revisit the issue with Ward after some time had passed.

The commission said Monday it had received several letters, emails and phone calls in October and November about Colley-Urquhart’s actions, which resulted in two formal complaints.

The commission said she may have violated the following:

1. Speaking on behalf of the Commission without express authority or delegation,
2. Using one’s position as a commissioner to advance personal interests,
3. Executing duties loyally, faithfully and impartially, and
4. Executing duties in accordance with applicable legislation.

In early November, she laid out a proposal for third-party reporting protocol.

“These people in the Calgary Police Service, sworn in and civilian, their stories need to be told one-on-one through a third-party mechanism that can be validated by the commission and Chief Chaffin as well and they’re dying to tell their stories, literally,” she said.

Concerns over her meeting with officers in secret were brought up then and she provided some of those complaints to the media in November, including how one officer emailed her, accusing her of being misinformed, out of touch and painting the force with too wide a brush.

“He said this has never happened, none whatsoever, that I was making all this up and what not,” she said. “You know what, from his perspective, he probably believes this doesn’t happen.”

In Monday’s commission statement, Thiessen said he addressed the concerns with Colley-Urquhart directly.

“Although Councillor Colley-Urquhart maintains that a breach of the code did not occur, our conversation gave me confidence that she strives to conduct herself in a way that balances the best interests of the Commission, the police service, the city, and her constituents,” he said. “The Commission and Councillor Colley-Urquhart agreed that this informal resolution was the most appropriate remedy.”

Colley-Urquhart has not responded for a comment.