The Saint John Board of Police Commissioners has denied allegations that it retaliated against former officer Samantha McInnis after she filed a conduct complaint [1].
The dispute highlights a deepening conflict within the Saint John police force, where a former officer alleges systemic retaliation while the governing board describes the legal action as a strategic attempt to avoid termination.
McInnis filed a conduct complaint against Police Chief Robert Bruce in 2023 [1]. The board said the lawsuit is an "abuse of process" [3]. According to the board, the legal action was intended to "deflect from her significant performance issues" [1] and the threat of being fired.
The board seeks to have the lawsuit dismissed, maintaining that the claims of retaliation are not valid [3]. The defense said the timing of the complaint was a reaction to the officer's own professional failures rather than a legitimate grievance regarding leadership conduct.
This case is part of a broader pattern of friction between the chief and his subordinates. Nine officers have filed conduct complaints against Chief Robert Bruce [1].
The board continues to defend the chief's administration against these allegations, asserting that performance management must be distinguishable from retaliation. The legal proceedings will determine if McInnis's actions were protected whistleblowing or an attempt to shield herself from disciplinary measures [3].
“abuse of process”
The repeated filing of conduct complaints by nine different officers suggests a systemic crisis of leadership or a cultural rift within the Saint John Police Department. By framing the lawsuit as an attempt to hide performance issues, the board is attempting to shift the narrative from police misconduct to individual employee accountability, which may influence how future internal grievances are handled in New Brunswick.
