An SFU criminologist says there may be political elements in the motive behind a police probe that threatens the career of B.C.'s former solicitor-general.
Dr. Rob Gordon said Kash Heed's campaign promises to redraw the RCMP's multi-billion dollar contract to include civilian oversight may have prompted the force to attempt to discredit him.
"You can see the potential for decisions to be made in such a way that [Heed] would be neutralized politically because of his concerns about police reform," Gordon told CTV News.
Heed wouldn't speak with CTV News on the record, but in text message exchanges with the Province newspaper Heed said he believes the RCMP are trying to "sideline/discredit" him.
Heed has pushed to improve police accountability and possibly replace the RCMP with a provincial police force.
An RCMP spokesman stood by the work of investigator Sgt. John Taylor, who wrote the warrant application and alleged that Heed didn't tell the truth in interrogations.
"As police officers we have to be allowed to investigate without fear or favour," said Sgt. Rob Vermeulen. "It's our job to follow the evidence."
A search warrant application contained allegations that cheques signed by Heed paid campaign workers with taxpayer money. Heed hasn't been charged with anything.
The warrant was sealed when it was before a judge in October, but Taylor only applied to keep it sealed until early January. Shortly afterwards it was unearthed and aired by CTV News.
"It's not the first time a police investigation or a report of an investigation has been used to discredit a politician or potential politician," said Gordon, who himself has been threatened by a top Mountie with a funding cut for his criticism of the RCMP.
Gordon said that he doubted any of the evidence in the search warrant had been faked or exaggerated to make a political point. He said it may be more of an issue of choosing which allegations to allow to be aired.
"If there is a kind of manipulation going on we should be extremely concerned at the conduct of the RCMP and the people who are having a political bunfight right now," he said.
The allegations of criminal breach of trust cover $6,000 in taxpayer money. Another $13,000 in private money, including an alleged $7,500 cheque from cranberry juice millionaire Peter Dhillon, may be involved in breaches of the Elections Act.
The special prosecutor appointed to the case, Peter Wilson, has received the package from the police, and is now reviewing the file.
The opposition stopped short of calling for Heed to resign his seat as Liberal MLA.
"Certainly if there are charges laid I would expect there would be calls for him to step down," said NDP public safety critic Mike Farnworth.
