Manitoba RCMP are reporting that a former officer with the Portage la Prairie RCMP detachment has been charged with breach of trust and theft. The charges are connected to an incident that occurred back in November of 2024.
On November 27, 2024, the Portage la Prairie RCMP detachment received a public complaint regarding one of their officers. The complainant alleged that approximately $300 was taken from his vehicle by an RCMP officer during a traffic stop in the City of Portage la Prairie on November 19, 2024.
An investigation into the complaint was initiated and led by Manitoba RCMP West District.
Members say that several witnesses, including other RCMP officers and the original complainant, were interviewed. In January 2025, while the investigation was ongoing, the officer who was the subject of the complaint, Constable Ben Harder, resigned from the RCMP.
RCMP report that all evidence was provided to Crown Counsel, and on October 2, 2025, Ben Harder was served with a summons by Norfolk County Ontario Provincial Police. As a result, Harder is being charged with breach of trust and theft under $5,000.
Police say that Ben Harder will appear in Portage la Prairie court at a future date.
Officials noted that the Independent Investigation Unit took on a monitoring role during this investigation and reviewed the full investigation upon its completion.
