Article content“If their (internal subpoena) system isn’t working the way it should have, or there was a technical issue, I think that’s an important explanation, so that people have faith that whatever that issue is, that the Halifax police are aware and are correcting it,” Sullivan said.Article content“I can’t imagine an officer would just not show up, make that decision, but I think people have a right to know in a general sense what the reason was and are assured that, whatever those issues were, steps are being taken to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”Article contentHRP have had a close relationship with the Mooseheads since the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League franchise was founded in 1994.Article contentOUtside court June 27, Berrigan told The Chronicle Herald he didn’t want to speculate or guess where the officer was.Article content“The Crown wanted to proceed and believed there was both a public interest and a realistic prospect of conviction,” he said. “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to proceed because of a situation beyond our control.”Article contentArticle contentIf there’s a perception that Dumais received preferential treatment from police, but that wasn’t actually the case, Sullivan said that should be addressed too.Article content“I think that needs to be dealt with, so people understand this wasn’t favouritism, that this wasn’t a decision made because of who the accused was,” he said.Article content“One hopes we can all take a lesson from this. It’s another reminder about impaired driving and the serious consequences.”Article contentAfter dismissing the charges, the judge said that although Dumais was presumed innocent, he wanted him to know that impaired driving is the No. 1 cause of death from criminal acts in Canada.Article content“That’s not a commentary on whether this happened or not,” Heerema said. “I just hope it stands to be a reminder to you in the future, and I wish you all the best.”Article contentMarla MacInnis, HRP’s manager of public relations and communications, said later that day that the force was investigating why the officer did not attend court.Article contentArticle contentAsked for an update Friday, MacInnis responded: “There is an expectation that officers take their duty to appear at court very seriously. The officer had a duty to appear in court last week and did not. There are consequences under the Police Act that are being explored now.”Article contentDumais, 21, ended his career with the Mooseheads as the team’s all-time leading scorer, with 325 points in 193 games over four seasons.Article contentThe five-foot-eight winger from Longueuil, Que., was selected in the third round of the National Hockey League’s 2022 entry draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets.Article contentThe following season, 2022-2023, Dumais led the QMJHL in scoring, collecting 54 goals and 86 assists for 140 points, and was named the league’s most valuable player.Article contentThis past season, he had 11 points in 21 games with the Cleveland Monsters, the Blue Jackets’ farm team in the American Hockey League.Article contentLast August, Columbus forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver while cycling in New Jersey.Article content
Halifax police owe public an explanation for cop’s failure to attend hockey player’s drunk-driving trial: MADD Canada CEO
