A British Columbia RCMP officer is facing potential dismissal due to inappropriate messages sent in a private group chat and on police data terminals. Const. Mersad Mesbah, stationed at the Coquitlam detachment, expressed hope that his long history of service will be weighed against his use of offensive language during a recent hearing.

Mesbah is one of three officers under scrutiny for alleged discreditable conduct. During the hearing in Richmond, B.C., a lawyer representing the RCMP conduct authority questioned Mesbah about derogatory comments he made regarding women, including a complainant and a colleague. The lawyer characterized these remarks as indicative of "hatred" toward women.

In his defense, Mesbah acknowledged that he made inappropriate jokes and comments out of frustration but insisted they do not reflect his professional conduct. He emphasized his commitment to handling sensitive cases, including domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse, and expressed hope that his overall policing record would be considered.

Having immigrated from Iran, Mesbah noted that he initially struggled with English and was unaware of the vulgarity of certain terms he used. He stated, "Now that I am aware, I will never use it again in my life."

One specific message cited by the conduct authority's lawyer referred to a complainant as "garbage" following a domestic violence incident where the victim was uncooperative. The message included a disturbing comment, "I hope he does ... kill u tonight." Mesbah explained that this remark stemmed from his frustration in trying to assist the individual involved.

"That comment was made in severe amount of frustration because I was actually trying to help the person," he said. "We were being impeded in being able to help and provide police assistance."

Mesbah shared a personal story about a woman who bravely reported years of abuse, highlighting the positive impact he had on her case. He recalled, "At the end, she gave me the biggest, most sincere hug of my life."

However, the conduct authority lawyer responded, "Well, with respect, sir, that’s a nice heartwarming story, but it didn’t stop you from joking about a woman being murdered by her domestic partner."

Mesbah admitted that he should not have made the comment but reiterated that it was not meant to be taken literally. He described feeling "enraged" by his inability to help the victim.

A former member of the Coquitlam detachment, who cannot be named due to a publication ban, testified that morale within the RCMP is generally low, particularly on the Coquitlam D-watch. He described a work environment where officers frequently called in sick to avoid micromanagement from supervisors.

The former officer characterized a superior as "anal retentive," noting that this individual filled a 200-page notebook every shift and pressured constables to file charges in cases they felt were unwarranted. He stated, "It was just like a constant beat down every day of morale and people not wanting to come to work anymore."

He also mentioned that the group chat among officers often served as a platform for inappropriate jokes, acknowledging that it was not a wise practice.

The hearing concluded on Friday and is set to reconvene in late October for closing arguments and a decision regarding the allegations against the three officers.