Woman wins right to appeal penalty decision after Calgary cop sent her sexual texts

When Roopa Wickson met CPS  Det. David Keagan, she thought she was going to get help with a domestic conflict situation involving her now ex-husband, who also works with Calgary Police.

But instead she was shocked when one Friday evening she got a call from that very detective assigned to her case.

“He sounded quite intoxicated, and I ended the phone call quite abruptly because I was with my children at the time, and it was alarming,” she said.

It became even more alarming when all of a sudden the officer began sending her a series of sexually suggestive messages to her phone –13 in total. 

“You and me together for a night, with no one else saying anything,” one of the messages read.

Wickson felt violated.

“I struggle to find the words,” she said.

“You just feel stuck and hopeless, and kind of like ‘Okay this was my last resort for help, and this person who has this much power and authority, has now abused it,'” she said

Wickson informed the other police officer involved in her case about the text messages.

The chief of police, Mark Neufeld, then ordered the Professional Standards Section to conduct an internal investigation into Keagan.

It was an investigation that Wickson claims she was never made aware of despite being the recipient of the text messages and filing a formal complaint against the officer in February 2022.

Amy Matychuk is with Prison and Police Law Firm, and is the lawyer representing Wickson.

“Ms. Wickson wanted to be involved in whatever complaint process that was ongoing as of Feb. 2022, but the process continued without any of her input until trial proceeded and a disciplinary sanction was ordered,” she explained.

“It’s troubling to me that a pretty serious misconduct can happen like this and there can be such a lack of attention to ensuring that the complainant’s interests are represented,” Matychuk added.

The professional standards investigation initiated by the chief finished in June 2022.

In August, the detective was ordered to forfeit 20 hours of work, a punishment Wickson describes as “laughable.”

“Twenty hours is nothing,” she said.

Nearly a month after the decision, Matychuk received a letter from the Calgary Police Service that said Wickson’s complaint wouldn’t be investigated any longer because the service’s investigation had finished.

She asked the complaint be referred to another police service, but the request was denied on the basis that more information about the investigation would be shared.

Wickson eventually received a letter from the chief, but according to Matychuk, didn’t contain any details on the disciplinary sanction imposed on the officer.

Shocked and frustrated, Matychuk and Wickson took it up with the Alberta Law Enforcement Review board and filed a notice of appeal.

Their battle didn’t end there.

The police service argued against the appeal for a number of reasons, including that Wickson’s complaint wasn’t submitted in time. 

The chief also argued that because the complaint was initiated by him, he was the complainant and not Wickson.

He also claimed  that Wickson was contacted numerous times for the investigation but didn’t want to take part.

That’s an allegation Wickson denies.

“That is false that they tried to reach me,” she said. “We were not aware of the process at all.”

The provincial review board ruled in favor of Wickson, stating that the chief’s actions were not “procedurally fair.”

“The chief could have notified the appellant that her complaint was not valid because the chief had initiated his own complaint, but he did not do so,” a decision from the Alberta Law Enforcement Review Board reads.

It’s small breakthrough that finally provided Wickson a sense of relief.

“The appeal being granted was very validating, and you know, maybe there is a chance for a little bit of accountability,” she said.

Since the ordeal, the single mom has struggled financially and with her mental health.

She told CityNews that she has had to give up her career in social work where she would work closely with victims of crime.

“It just hit too close to home,” Wickson said. “I couldn’t be in the courthouse helping people, because the courthouse gave me so much anxiety, so it has affected me in every way,”

In a statement, Calgary police said they couldn’t provide comment because the issue is under appeal with the Law Enforcement Review Board.

The police service, however, did confirm that Keagan is still an active member of the police service.

Now that the appeal has been granted, Wickson hopes justice will be served, and the officer will receive a stronger punishment.

“I’m standing up for the truth, and this is unjust and I’m going to put that forward — I’m not backing down,” she said.