Calgary Police Commission won't say if former chief received severance pay

CBC News

· Posted: May 23, 2025 8:42 AM EDT | Last Updated: May 23

The Calgary Police Commission has declined to accidental if erstwhile main Mark Neufeld received a severance outgo aft helium resigned this outpouring with 2 years near connected his contract.

CBC News asked the committee if Neufeld was paid retired for the remainder of his 2 years nether contract, and received a connection successful response.

"While the Calgary Police Commission surely understands the involvement successful Chief Neufeld's caller resignation, we are not legally capable to supply immoderate further details arsenic it is simply a confidential unit matter," it reads. 

Ward 7 Councillor Terry Wong was besides asked astir severance wage for Neufeld but did not supply immoderate details.

"You person to admit employment contracts are employment contracts betwixt an enactment and a person's idiosyncratic rights," helium said.

CBC News archetypal reported Neufeld's resignation connected May 2, aft it obtained a transcript of an email sent to members of the unit letting them cognize his resignation had been accepted.

Neufeld was sworn successful connected June 10, 2019. His declaration was expected to tally until 2027.

Political expert argues constabulary should supply much answers

Lori Williams, a governmental expert astatine Mount Royal University, said it's "entirely appropriate" for taxpayers to expect much accusation astir severance payments for high-profile nationalist figures. 

"There's an understandable anticipation connected the portion of the nationalist that this accusation beryllium available," she said. 

"They besides privation to know, particularly astatine a clip erstwhile affordability is specified an contented for galore people, that their precious taxation dollars are being spent wisely."

Williams added the deficiency of accusation raises questions astir the reasons for Neufeld's departure from the force.

"The information that determination aren't immoderate answers forthcoming does pb to speculation that thing untoward occurred," she said. "We person nary idea."

Williams besides said it's important that the Calgary Police Service manages concerns raised by the nationalist to support nationalist trust.

The City of Calgary and CPS person provided details connected severance wage for executives connected immoderate erstwhile occasions.

Mayor Jyoti Gondek's erstwhile main of staff, Stephen Carter, received astir $100,000 successful severance wage aft helium was dismissed successful 2022.

Severance wage numbers were besides made nationalist erstwhile 2 lawman constabulary main positions were eliminated by erstwhile constabulary main Rick Hanson aft helium took complaint of the unit successful 2007.

One erstwhile lawman chief, Dean Young, received $362,744 successful severance pay. Another, Peter Davison, took location $341,923.

After Neufeld's resignation, Katie McLellan was sworn successful as interim CPS main earlier this month.

In a quality merchandise issued earlier this month, the Calgary Police Commission said it volition not immediately start a hunt for a new, imperishable constabulary chief.