CALGARY — A veteran member of the Calgary Police Service has been charged under Alberta's privacy act.
Police allege the officer conducted 96 searches of someone's private information using two police databases that had nothing to do with law enforcement.
The person whose personal information was accessed notified police about the privacy breach last summer.
Police say Sgt. Kevin Knight is charged with one count each of accessing information in contravention of the privacy law and using or disclosing information in contravention of the law.
Knight has been with the Calgary Police Service for 31 years.
Chief Constable Mark Neufeld says Knight remains on duty in an area where access to police databases is not required.
"These allegations are deeply concerning and we know cases like this undermine the public's trust in us," Neufeld said in a release Thursday.
"Our Service does not take it for granted that we are entrusted with private and often very sensitive information about the people we serve.
"This is a responsibility we take very seriously, and it is completely unacceptable if any officer or civilian employee accesses private information without a valid reason."
Neufeld said Knight will also face an internal disciplinary process that will consider whether his actions followed the law, police policies and training.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 29, 2021
The Canadian Press
