An independent hearing started in Saskatoon on Monday that is going to determine who police officers should be able to call friends.
Former Sgt. Robbie Taylor was fired in March because of a relationship with a man who was an associate of the Hells Angels biker gang. He appealed the firing and an independent mediator is hearing the facts of the dismissal from both sides.
Ronni Nordal is the mediator in the case, which will hear from multiple witnesses including Chief Cameron McBride.
Taylor’s lawyer Brian Pfefferle said Taylor “was fired for having an association with an individual who allegedly has associations with other individuals who are members of outlaw motorcycle clubs.”
“So friends of friends are people that the police service does not want him associating with. And we say it’s far removed and it’s something that that there shouldn’t be an association concern there.”
Ashley Smith, the Saskatoon Police Service lawyer, said the issue is whether Taylor’s “undesirable association” made him suitable to be a police officer.
She said that Chief Cameron McBride concluded that Taylor was compromised by the relationship “and there was a loss of trust and confidence.”
Smith called police gang analyst Matthew Matieshin, who knew Taylor professionally for more than a decade and who had misgivings about his relationship with the biker associate. A publication ban is in place protecting the identity of Taylor’s friend.
Matieshin said in early 2023 he learned that the man was an associate of the Hells Angels through surveillance of the bike gang at various events. Later that same year, Matieshin learned from a different officer — who also knew the man as an associate of the Angels — that Taylor had tried to intervene when his friend was pulled over in a traffic stop. Taylor told the officer that the man was his friend and asked that he not write him a ticket.
The officer wrote the ticket, and then contacted Matieshin.
“I thought it was inappropriate that he inserted himself into a traffic investigation.” Matieshin said.
“It was concerning, and should be documented.”
Matieshin said that, a year later, Taylor came into his office and offered some information on a Hells Angel “prospect,” an individual undergoing a probationary period to become a full member of a motorcycle club. Through this discussion, Taylor revealed that he had a friend who was friends with bikers.
Matieshin said Taylor did not hide the friendship, or the man’s connections to the Hells Angels. Furthermore, Taylor said he’d gone on a holiday to Ireland with the associate and had accepted an expensive watch as a gift.
The hearing continues on Tuesday and is expected to run all week.
