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By doing so, it alleges, “the chief acted beyond the scope of his authority and failed to discharge the public duty.”

The chief is also accused of attempting to “bully and intimidate” Happner by alluding to her decision to excuse herself from what’s described in the filing as a “high-profile murder investigation.”

In that case, it’s alleged her fellow investigators “withheld information from her” as applicant of an interception of private communications affidavit, saying they “disparaged her, including calling her (an obscenity) for insisting on full, fair and frank disclosure.”

Contacted by Postmedia for comment, a statement from CPA president Les Kaminski expressed disappointment Happner was forced to resort to “drastic actions” in order to have her concerns taken seriously.

“She took the courageous step to come forward to the chief with serious concerns about the actions of a CPS senior officer, only to be told by the chief that the ‘alleged contravention is not of a serious nature,’ ” it read.

“We face enough dangers and obstacles in the normal course of our duties. The CPA will keep working for our members to ensure that when they are inside our personal workspace, they can feel confident that they will not have to deal with what has been described as a ‘toxic environment.’ ”

Declining to directly comment on what he considers an internal HR matter, the chief said using an ongoing situation to judge the service’s reform efforts is both premature and irresponsible.

“When I am required to make decisions on these matters, the official terminology I am required to use is restricted by the Police Act to ‘serious’ and ‘not serious,’ ” Chaffin said.

“This does not truly reflect how important all of these matters are to me, it is, however, the language I am bound to use by the Act.”

bpassifiume@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @bryanpassifiume