Bernie Herman is scheduled to appear in court again May 26 on a charge of first degree murder. (File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Teena Monteleone

Investigation oversight

RCMP officer accused of murder ‘indirectly provided details’ that led to his arrest

May 14, 2021 | 6:06 PM

Bernie Herman was taken into custody with ‘reasonable cooperation’ after he allegedly murdered 26-year-old Braden Herman.

In fact, the veteran RCMP officer charged with first-degree murder indirectly provided the Prince Albert Police Service (PAPS) the details that led them to the victim and his own subsequent arrest.

“The accused was taken into custody with reasonable cooperation, and it occurred shortly after when we believe the incident to have happened. So, the arrest did occur Tuesday evening,” Police Chief Jonathan Bergen told reporters during a Zoom conference Friday afternoon.

Police confirmed Braden’s body was found close to Little Red River Park, within city limits. An autopsy was scheduled to be performed Thursday.

Police previously said Bernie Herman and the victim Braden were not related but did know each other. A reporter asked Bergen to share more details about the relationship, citing reports about the accused allegedly harassing the victim leading up to the incident.

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“The relationship of the accused and the victim is a good question. I think with the investigation still being in its really early stages, we’re still learning more about those details and we too don’t have all of those specific answers yet,” Bergen said. “It’s too early in the investigations to draw conclusions there.”

Herman has 32 years of service with the RCMP. Bergen said he understands there are going to be questions about how someone who served and protected the community for so many years could be involved.

“Given that the accused is a well-known member of our local community, I know it is important to have public oversight on this file,” he said.

The province has appointed two independent officers to oversee the investigation. Both are experienced in major crime investigations and are independent of the RCMP and the PAPS.

“Officers within our police service will continue to investigate this homicide and I have full confidence in their abilities to objectively and impartially collect all evidence to bring this incident before the courts,” Bergen said.

More details of the investigation are expected to be released next week. Herman remains in custody and is scheduled to make his next court appearance May 26.

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Teena.Monteleone@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MonteleoneTeena