An RCMP officer caught engaging in discreditable behavior after making sexist comments in group chats says he never meant to hurt anyone and still wants to be a lineman.
But RCMP conduct lawyer says Const. Mersad Mesbah should be fired immediately or ordered to resign within 14 days because of messages that contained hopes of killing a woman and claims that he would have pepper-sprayed the victim if he had been first on the scene.
Mesbah told today's hearing that he views chat rooms as places where he can “just get this terrible thing out of his head” before moving on to the next interaction or file, and he “sincerely, deeply regrets” his actions.
RCMP Judge Louise Morel found last year that Coquitlam constables Mesbah, Ian Solven and Philip Dick failed to treat people with respect and courtesy and engaged in disparaging behavior when they posted racist, sexist and homophobic comments in a group chat with other officers and on police computer terminals.
Conduct lawyer John McLaughlan said Mesbah's actions were “fundamentally inconsistent” with the core values of the RCMP.
Mesbah's lawyer, Allison Tremblay, argued that serious consequences “short of termination” would be appropriate, such as loss of 45 days' pay or training, calling him a dedicated officer capable of rehabilitation.
Solven was ordered to resign at a separate hearing in December and the RCMP confirmed this week that he was no longer a member.
Morel is expected to rule on Mesbah's case next week.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 7, 2026.
