News release

Former Manitoba RCMP officer charged with breach of trust and theft

October 3, 2025 - Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
From: Manitoba RCMP

Content

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 led by Manitoba RCMP West District.

Several witnesses, including other RCMP officers, were interviewed as well as the original complainant. In January 2025, while the investigation was ongoing, the officer who was the subject of the complaint, Constable Ben Harder, resigned from the RCMP.

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. He is being charged with the following:

• Breach of trust
• Theft under $5000

Harder will appear in Portage la Prairie court on October 21, 2025.

The Independent Investigation Unit took on a monitoring role during this investigation and reviewed the full investigation upon its completion.

Contacts