Former cop faces charges

Photo: Google Street View

UPDATE: 5 p.m.

More details have come to light about the allegations against a former Kelowna RCMP officer who's facing several breach of trust charges.

According to court documents, Brian Mathew Burkett is alleged to have committed breach of trust “in connection with the duties of his office by pursuing a sexual relationship” with several people between October 2015 and August 2016.

The nature of Burkett's relationship with the people is unknown, and the identities of the people are protected under a publication ban.

Burkett quit the RCMP in August 2017, after he had been suspended with pay in light of the allegations.

“When we became aware of the allegations, we did launch a criminal and internal investigation and that would have been while he was serving with the Kelowna RCMP,” said Dawn Roberts, director of communications the BC RCMP.

Roberts could not say when the RCMP had first become aware of the allegations.

ORIGINAL: 11:35 p.m.

A former Kelowna RCMP officer is facing multiple breach of trust charges, for incidents alleged to have occurred in 2015 and 2016.

Brian Mathew Burkett was charged in July with several counts of breach of trust by a public officer for “allegations of misconduct” against several different people in and around Kelowna, between October 2015 and August 2016.

While the definition of the breach of trust charge is somewhat broad, University of Alberta law professor Peter Sankoff has described the section of the criminal code as a “catch-all provision that is designed to ensure that government officials do not abuse their authority while acting in an official capacity.”

The details of the allegations are unknown at this time, and a ban on publication has been issued on the identities of the alleged victims.

A press release by the B.C. Prosecution Service describes Burkett as a “former Kelowna RCMP officer,” but it's unclear when and why he left the force.

His next Kelowna court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 23.