Chair of city police commission resigns

The city’s police commission will be appointing its third chair in the last 12 months after Sarah Scahill confirmed to Community TV she’s stepped down from the position last month.

Medicine Hat Police Commission: Miles Johnson, Ken Serr, Darren Hirsch, Elenor Robles, Gwendoline Dirk, Robert Dumanowski, Sarah Scahill, Paul Carolan. Public Complaints Director, Greg Keen. (Photo courtesy of the police commission).

Scahill took over the position from Marco Jansen who stepped down from the board earlier this year. Jansen was appointed to the chair position following his predecessor, Ted Rodych, leaving the commission at the end of 2022.

Scahill cited health reasons for her departure from the position.

Current vice-chair Paul Carolan is anticipated to step into the chair position.

The city’s police service was rocked earlier this year by explosive allegations by its former chief Mike Worden contained in a lawsuit filed in March.

Worden claims he was the victim of a harassment campaign from fellow officers within the service.

Court documents allege Worden notified the police commission in early 2022 of what is described as a blackmail attempt to have him resign or embarrassing and sexually charged messages would be revealed to the commission.

Two former CHAT TV reporters were also roped into the alleged scandal involving a love triangle between the former chief another city police officer and a local woman.

One former local journalist advised the police commission she never filed a harassment complaint against Worden, which the lawsuit alleges. Another former local journalist told the commission of an attempt to recruit the reporter to reveal damaging information against Worden.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

Police commission meetings are usually held the third week of the month but the next meeting is currently scheduled for Sept. 25 due to lack of quorum.