Animal control officer charged with fraud

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This article was published 31/03/2023 (1315 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

An animal control bylaw officer with the Brandon Police Service is facing fraud charges after he allegedly pocketed money from residents who surrendered their animals to the pound last year.

Neil Terence Jordan, 57, has been charged with five counts of fraud under $5,000 and five counts of breach of trust by an official after a member of the BPS criminal investigation unit found that fees collected for the surrender of animals were not deposited with the pound.

None of the allegations against Jordan have been proven in court.

“It’s disappointing for me to have to bring this news to you on the information that I have learned regarding this situation,” Chief Wayne Balcaen said at a press conference at police headquarters Thursday morning.

When an animal is surrendered to the pound, there is typically a fee ranging between $40 and $65. The process requires a bylaw officer to fill out a form, which is signed by both the officer and the person surrendering the animal. The officer then takes the money and deposits the funds with the pound.

Last December, another BPS employee was working on a separate investigation when they learned that after an officer collected the surrender fee from a Brandon resident earlier that month, the funds were never deposited with the pound agent.

A police investigator was assigned to the case on Jan. 9 after the employee brought their findings to a supervisor.

As the investigation unfolded, it was discovered that four similar incidents, where money was collected for the surrender of animals but was not deposited with the pound, occurred between March and August 2022. The cash ranged from $40 to $240 in each incident, but in total, around $500 was allegedly stolen by the officer.

Jordan, who has worked for BPS as an animal control bylaw officer for nine years, was relieved of his duties and has been on unpaid leave, at his request, since Jan. 25.

Balcaen said the service doesn’t believe there are additional victims of fraud in this case, but police will investigate if any more come forward.

In response to the arrest, the supervisor of animal control will now examine calls involving financial transactions.

“We’re also looking at processes to make sure that there is certainly a linkage between us and the pound agent to make sure that this doesn’t happen again,” Balcaen said.

When asked about the repayment of residents’ money, the police chief left the matter to the courts.

“There is an opportunity for an order of restitution through the courts,” he said.

BPS continues its review into determining best practices.

“The Brandon Police Service has high expectations of ethical and moral standards from all of our staff,” Balcaen said at the conference. “And to see what has happened is detrimental to each employee and no doubt to those who we serve within our community.”

Jordan will appear in court on April 24.

» gmortfield@brandonsun.com