Mountie says he crossed the line into vulgarity, went much too far on group chats

By Canadian Press on September 16, 2025.

RICHMOND — One of three Coquitlam RCMP officers facing possible dismissal over allegedly racist, sexist and other derogatory messages made in group chats between officers says he is “ashamed” of himself for some of the messages he authored.

Const. Philip Dick made the statement during a code-of-conduct hearing being held in Richmond, B.C., this week after it was delayed from March.

Dick says he used dark humour to cut the tension of the job but would cross a line into vulgarity that went “much too far.”

He says the messages, which include derogatory comments about a Mexican sexual assault victim and other racially insensitive terms, were hard to recognize as something he’d ever say, but he’s had years to think about them and reflect on his disappointment in himself.

The hearing stems from a complaint from Const. Sam Sodhi, who alleged to his superiors in 2021 that Dick, along with Constables Ian Solven, Mersad Mesbah and others engaged in discreditable conduct by making racist, sexist and homophobic comments in a Signal group chat and on police data terminals.

Dick denied many of Sodhi’s allegations, but also says he’s ashamed of himself for dealing with stress and negative emotions in an immature and “stupid way.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2025.

The Canadian Press