Two Toronto police officers are facing disciplinary charges for allegedly failing to properly investigate the disappearance of murder victim Tess Richey.Const. Alan McCullough and Const. Michael Jones made a brief first appearance before a police tribunal at Toronto police headquarters on Tuesday morning.The officers were working the day shift together on Nov. 26, 2017 when they received “a radio call to attend an address in relation to a check address,” according to the notice of hearing issued under the Police Services Act.A family member had been reported Richey, 22, missing the previous day.Her body was found by her mother on Nov. 29 in an alleyway outside an building near Church and Wellesley Sts., approximately 40 metres northeast of the address the officers attended.“While on the scene, you learned this location was the last known location where T.R. had been seen,” reads the notice of hearing detailing the charges alleging misconduct and neglect of duty.“You did not search the adjoining property or immediate area thoroughly. You did not conduct a canvass of the neighbours. You failed to notify a supervisory officer of all the particulars. Your actions were in contravention of Toronto Police Service Procedure 04-05 ‘Missing Persons.’”Richey was killed by neck compression, according to a post mortem examination. Kalen Schlatter, 21, was arrested Feb. 4 and charged with second-degree murder, a charge which was later upgraded to first-degree murder.Toronto police Staff Sgt. Shane Branton, of the professional standards unit, told the tribunal Tuesday he has been in contact with the prosecutor handling the Schlatter case, which is in its early stages.The prosecutor has asked the Police Act matter be adjourned sine die, which means without appointing a next appearance date.“The circumstances surrounding the alleged misconduct involve a very serious matter before the criminal courts,” Branton said. Proc ...
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