RCMP's discipline board refuses to step aside for referring to impugned Mounties as 'Three Amigos'
The members of an RCMP disciplinary tribunal tasked with hearing allegations of sexism and racism against a trio of Coquitlam Mounties say they don't need to step aside for having referred to the men as the 'Three Amigos.'
A lawyer for Constables Philip Dick, Ian Solven and Mersad Mesbah had argued that by referring to his clients as the 'Three Amigos' in a handful of emails and a file name, the three-member conduct board had tainted the proceedings with an appearance of "real or perceived bias."
But board chair Sara Novell told the impugned officers Friday that while the use of the term may have been "inappropriate and regrettable" — it was hardly grounds for recusal.
Novell said the 'Three Amigos' term showed up on a file folder and about 10 administrative emails referring to the folder, something she said may have appeared "unprofessional," but that would not lead a regular person to conclude that the board was biased against the three men.
'A strong air of superiority'
The decision means a code of conduct hearing against Dick, Mesbah and Solven will now move ahead, with testimony slated Monday morning from the whistleblower who launched the complaint in 2021.
The RCMP wants all three Mounties fired for their alleged involvement in private chat group conversations in which officers are accused of bragging about "Tasering unarmed Black people," calling a sexual assault investigation "stupid," and mocking the body of a new female employee.
Those allegations came to light last fall after the release of a search warrant detailing the circumstances which allegedly led the officer who sparked the investigation to complain to RCMP brass about what he saw as "atrocious" and "racist and horrible" activity by his colleagues.
The court documents claim investigators also reviewed 600,000 messages posted to the RCMP's internal mobile data chat logs — finding evidence of "frequently offensive" usage by the three officers facing termination for "homophobic and racist slurs."
"The reviewers had identified a variety of comments that were 'chauvinist in nature, with a strong air of superiority, and include flippant or insulting remarks about clients (including objectifying women), supervisors, colleagues, policy and the RCMP as a whole,'" the search warrant said.
The hearing against the men was supposed to have started last Monday but was derailed by the last-minute challenge to the board's credibility — which arose after the disclosure of internal board documents referring to the case as the 'The Amigos.'
A lawyer for the men claimed the use of the term gave rise to concerns the board viewed the men as friends who would stick together to protect each other despite facing individual accusations — separate from each other.
But Novell rejected those concerns, pointing to the fact the board chose to disclose the internal documentation that gave rise to the 'Three Amigos' allegations as proof of a dedication to transparency and a lack of bias.
'Constant negativity'
According to the search warrant, the whistleblower — Const. Sam Sodhi — was posted to Coquitlam in 2019.
Sodhi claimed there were two chat groups for members of the Coquitlam detachment assigned to Port Coquitlam — one for all members of the watch and a second private group that began on WhatsApp but then moved to Signal. He said he was told once he was "worthy" of the private chat group, "we'll add you to it."
The officer claimed he was admitted to the private chat group in March 2021 but left after a few days because of the "constant negativity." He said he was then accused of "not being a team member" and encouraged to return.
The warrant says Sodhi claimed that outside of the private chat group, members of the group also "belittled Indigenous people, talking about how they were 'stupid' or 'drunk' and saying they have 'unfortunate bodies' and all have fetal alcohol syndrome."
According to the search warrant, Sodhi complained to his superiors in May 2021.
Dick, Solven and Mesbah have all denied the allegations against them.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
6 minutes ago
- Global News
N.S. missing kids: Tips surpass 600 as case remains unsolved, RCMP says
More than two months after the disappearance of two young siblings in rural Nova Scotia, RCMP say their 'intensive' investigation has included reviewing some 5,000 video files and more than 600 public tips — but the case remains unsolved. Lilly Sullivan, 6, and her brother Jack Sullivan, 4, were reported missing on May 2 from their home in Lansdowne Station in Pictou County. Multiple ground and air searches were conducted in the days and weeks after. So far, police have confirmed they found a pink blanket, which officers seized, and a boot print. The children's family had indicated the siblings wandered away that morning from the home, which is situated in a heavily-wooded and rural area. 0:50 Case of missing N.S. kids hits 2-month mark with no answers The case, led by the Northeast Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit, involves RCMP units in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Ontario, along with the National Centre of Missing Persons, and Canadian Centre for Child Protection. Police agencies from other provinces and municipalities in Canada have also contributed to the efforts. Story continues below advertisement In a Wednesday update, RCMP said they have reviewed about 5,000 video files that they received by canvassing Lansdowne Station and the surrounding areas. In May, police confirmed they had video evidence that showed the children with their family in public the day before they were reported missing. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy RCMP also said they've formally interviewed more than 60 people and administered some polygraph tests. The children's stepfather, Daniel Martell, has told Global News that he has taken a test. 'Right now, there are more than 800 tasks associated to this investigation,' said Staff Sgt. Rob McCamon, the acting Officer in Charge of Major Crime and Behavioural Sciences, in a release. 'A tremendous amount of careful, deliberate investigative work is underway by people here at home and in other parts of Canada; our collective efforts will continue every day until we determine with certainty the circumstances surrounding Lilly and Jack's disappearance.' The children's disappearance was added to the province's Major Unsolved Crimes Program, which offers a reward of up to $150,000 for information in the case. Anyone with information can call the Northeast Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit at 902-896-5060 or submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
National Observer
an hour ago
- National Observer
RCMP arrest alleged hijacker at Vancouver airport after airspace is closed down
RCMP say they've arrested the pilot of a small aircraft that was allegedly hijacked from Victoria and flown to Vancouver International Airport, where other flights had to be temporarily halted. RCMP in Richmond, BC, say in a statement that a report came in just after 1 p.m. Tuesday about a Cessna that "had been hijacked" and was on its way to Vancouver. Police say the "sole occupant" of the plane was arrested after it touched down. Social media videos show multiple police vehicles on the Vancouver runway behind a single-engine plane, and several officers advancing on the aircraft. A photo on social media shows a man with a beard dressed in a grey T-shirt and dark pants with his hands up, as three police officers appear to point weapons at him. Vancouver International Airport says the "security incident" involving a small private aircraft shut down arrivals for 39 minutes, but operations later returned to normal. The airport says in a statement that the incident occurred in airspace above the airport around 1:30 p.m. In an air-traffic recording from YVR, a controller in the tower says around 1:26 p.m. that a Cessna 172 had been hijacked. It warned other aircraft to "continue looking out the window" for the small plane "in case anything starts heading towards you." "We really don't know what will happen, but this aircraft is just circling overhead," the controller says a few minutes later. "And we don't know, of course, their intention." Online flight path data for the light aircraft shows it took off from Victoria's airport and landed in Vancouver at 1:43 p.m., after circling around YVR airspace several times. Victoria International Airport said the aircraft was operated by the Victoria Flying Club, and the incident was "safely resolved." It said "the individual involved has been apprehended by the RCMP." The Victoria Flying Club didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Vancouver International Airport said flights were operating normally Tuesday afternoon after the 39-minute "ground stop" for arrivals. It said nine inbound aircraft were diverted to other airports. "Airlines, YVR, and our partners are working to support getting those passengers to their destinations," the airport statement said. "Flights are now operating normally in and out of YVR, however some flight delays are possible and passengers should check directly with their airline or at before coming to the airport." This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 15, 2025.
Montreal Gazette
4 hours ago
- Montreal Gazette
Opinion: Quebec extremist plot a warning — not an isolated incident
Op Eds By Special to the Montreal Gazette A land grab, a cache of stolen weapons, and a plot to form an anti-government militia. This isn't a scene from an action movie: it's what the RCMP uncovered in Canada. On July 8, four men with ties to the Canadian Armed Forces, two of which were active members, were arrested in relation to an alleged plot to carry out an armed land seizure near Quebec City. Three face terrorism-related charges, and the fourth faces weapons and explosives charges. Police say the men amassed an arsenal of weapons and explosives and planned to form an anti-government militia, describing it as a case of 'ideologically motivated violent extremism.' The group's activities included 'shooting, ambush, survival and navigation exercises,' and a scouting operation. One suspect also launched an Instagram page to recruit others. The case stands out not just for its violent aims and military ties, but because it reflects a growing global trend rooted in a belief that government is corrupt, illegitimate and harmful. Through research funded by the Canada Centre at Public Safety Canada, we at the Organization for the Prevention of Violence and Germany's modus|zad found anti-government extremism in Canada and Germany is rising. Our findings align with the details of the Quebec arrests, suggesting incidents like this are not isolated. Recent years have seen a wave of anti-government plots in democracies globally: In France, a far-right conspiracist was charged with terrorism for planning a coup involving former soldiers and an attack on Élysée Palace. In 2022, Germany arrested dozens connected to the Reichsbürger movement, including ex-military members and a former member of parliament, for plotting to kidnap the health minister, sabotage the power grid and spark a civil war. In Belgium, police raids of anti-government 'doomsday preppers' led to the death of a man who stockpiled over 100 weapons. In the Netherlands, a sovereigntist movement member was arrested in 2024 for allegedly attempting to arm himself against the government. And in the U.S., a trial is underway to decide the fate of a Pennsylvania man accused of decapitating his father for 'treason' before attempting to initiate a coup. These incidents share several characteristics: weapons stockpiling, paramilitary training and anti-government ideology, all of which appear to be present in the Quebec case. While details of the plot are still emerging, our research helps situate it within this increasingly global trend: First, weapons stockpiling and tactical training are consistent markers of anti-government extremism. Adherents often frame their world view around an imminent societal collapse, justifying their preparations. Others seek to directly confront the government. Locally, in Canada, we saw similar dynamics in the 2020 Nova Scotia mass shooting — where the perpetrator had stockpiled weapons and expressed fears about societal collapse — and in the 2022 B.C. bank shooting, where twin brothers who held anti-government views had stockpiled weapons leading up to a staged bank robbery to lure and ambush police. Second, the desire to seize land is not just a tactic, but an ideological goal. Many anti-government groups aim to seize land to form an alternative government or a sovereign community, or to establish an ethno-national enclave. In Canada, we have seen modest attempts to create ideological settlements. Several years ago, it was reported that a German property developer in Nova Scotia, who recently pleaded guilty to firearms charges, attempted along with others to create a Reichsbürger colony in Cape Breton by selling property to like-minded Europeans seeking refuge from a prophesied European collapse. Third, ties to the military are no coincidence. Anti-government groups often target current and former members of the military for recruitment, as highlighted in a 2020 Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre report. Many extremist groups view them as high-value recruits, believing they possess the combat training to further the cause. Our research in Germany found similar trends, including several high-ranking Reichsbürger members with ties to the government or military. The Quebec arrests should not be seen as an isolated incident, nor should they come as a surprise. Rather, they signal an evolution of anti-government extremism in Canada on par with global trends. Canada has already seen isolated events like the storming of Rideau Hall by a former Canadian reservist in 2020 — and broader yet more fractured and less organized movements like the Canadian Freemen-on-the-Land. But the Quebec case appears far more networked, organized and, given the volume of seized weapons, further along in its plans for violence than previous efforts. Anti-government extremism is rising globally, driven by conspiratorial thinking and a rejection of state legitimacy. Canada is not immune. Preventing future plots requires recognizing these events as part of a global pattern rather than isolated one-offs. Michèle St-Amant is a senior researcher at the Organization for the Prevention of Violence where she researches far-right, anti-government and misogynist extremism. John McCoy is the executive director and founder of the Organization for the Prevention of Violence. He is an adjunct professor at Ontario Tech University.
