The chief of the Saint John Police Force allegedly mocked the mental health struggles of one of his officers in the aftermath of a murder-suicide case by pretending to draw his gun, hand it to the officer, then mime shooting himself in the head.
This is part of one of five misconduct allegations against Chief Robert Bruce deemed founded by an investigator appointed by the Saint John Board of Police Commissioners to look into complaints filed by two officers, newly released court documents reveal.
The incident occurred at a management meeting without the officer present, according to the documents.
Insp. Samantha McInnis, who worked as the chief’s executive assistant, details the incident in a conduct complaint filed with the New Brunswick Police Commission on June 13, 2025.
McInnis alleged the chief made “disparaging comments” in another management meeting about that same officer’s weight after he saw him eating fast food.
The documents show investigator Allen Farrah confirmed her claim that Bruce said if that officer dropped dead from a heart attack, he would “walk right past” an automated external defibrillator.
“Implying he would let him die,” McInnis wrote in her complaint.
McInnis also alleges the chief, on a separate occasion, implied to her that another officer had gained weight and should be instructed to try on her tunic to ensure it still fit.
“As he said this, he patted his stomach and puffed out his cheeks,
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