Two Toronto police officers, Constables Alan McCullough and Michael Jones, were accused of misconduct in connection with the 2017 murder of Tess Richey. They appeared before a police tribunal where the charges against them were withdrawn. The officers were charged in June 2018 under the Police Services Act with two counts each of misconduct and neglect of duty. However, Monday’s hearing found no professional misconduct, and the charges were withdrawn due to alternative measures including discipline at the unit level. The officers accepted responsibility, will contribute to police training in missing persons cases, speak to recruits about the lessons learned, and forfeit 40 hours of pay.
On November 26, 2017, McCullough and Jones responded to a call about Richey, who was reported missing. According to documents released in 2018, the officers did not search the adjoining property where Richey was last seen, did not canvass the neighbors, and failed to notify a supervisor of their search efforts. Richey’s body was later found by her mother in a stairwell outside an abandoned building. Initially, police said her death was an accident, but an autopsy revealed she died by strangulation. Richey’s death led to a professional standards review by the police to examine how they handle missing persons cases.
A Toronto police spokesperson stated that the tribunal decision reflects a commitment to accountability and continuous improvement within the service. The matter was resolved through a restorative approach to discipline administered at the unit level, with consultation with Richey’s family throughout the process. The spokesperson expressed deepest sympathies to Richey’s family for the loss they endured. Kalen Schlatter, who met Richey in the early morning hours of November 25, 2017, was arrested in February 2018 and charged with first-degree murder. He was later convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Evidence of Schlatter’s sexual interest in choking was alluded to by Ontario Superior Court Justice Michael Dambrot during the sentencing.
During Schlatter’s sentencing, Justice Dambrot stated that despite Schlatter’s young age, his actions led to the death of an innocent young woman. He criticized Schlatter for satisfying his lust by taking Richey’s life and causing immense pain to her family and friends. Schlatter showed no remorse for his actions, according to the judge. The Canadian Press provided files for this information. The case highlights the issue of missing persons cases and the importance of proper police procedures and protocols in handling such situations. The withdrawal of charges against the two officers raises questions about accountability within the police force and the consequences for neglect of duty in high-profile cases like Richey’s murder.
