A former Calgary police officer has been charged with breach of trust for incidents that occurred over his 16 years of service.
After a 16-month-long investigation by the Calgary Police Service Professional Standards Section and consultation with the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service, Brett Singer, 51, was charged with one count of breach of trust and one count of misuse of a computer system.
Singer resigned in September this year according to a statement released by the police service Wednesday.
From 2008 to 2023, police believe he engaged in personal relationships with numerous women with whom he had initial contact through calls for service or police-related matters.
“The officer used police databases for a personal purpose to find and engage in further contact with the women, outside of his policing duties,” Calgary police also allege.
An initial complaint came forward in July 2023 and when the investigation revealed evidence in support of the allegations, Singer was suspended with pay in January this year.
His “duty status” continued to be assessed as the investigation progressed, said police.
“He was suspended without pay in September 2024. Shortly after, the officer resigned from the Calgary Police Service,” police said. “It is believed that he has since left Canada and has not returned.”
As a result of Singer leaving Canada, police laid charges by way of a Canada-wide warrant.
“To the women who were impacted by this individual and to Calgarians generally, I want you to know this is a serious situation that we will never take lightly,” said Calgary police Chief Mark Neufeld in the release.
Neufeld added that the former officer, holding a position of authority, should have been someone you’re able to trust.
“We have zero tolerance for these behaviours by police officers and will take every measure to protect the public and to hold those who engage in these activities to full account,” said Neufeld.
Singer is described as approximately six feet tall, 210 lbs., with blue eyes and brown hair.
Information can be submitted to police at 403-266-1234 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
Anyone who believes they received “inappropriate contact of a personal nature” from a police officer can report it through the Calgary police professional standards section online or by calling at 403-428-5904.