SIRT director hopeful RNC criminal probe will be finished by year's end

An investigation into senior members of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary will hopefully be concluded before the new year, according toRonMacDonald, director ofNova Scotia's Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT), which is handling the case.

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MacDonald said his team has been working hard over the last several months on the criminal investigation.

While there is nofirm deadline, MacDonald told CBC News Wednesday he hopes to have the investigation completedby the end of the year.

As many as seven senior members within the RNC are under scrutinyin the criminal probe.

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Last fall, the Department of Justice and Public Safety calledSIRTafter receiving a complaint about theRNC'shandling of a confidential informant.

When the investigation is finished, MacDonald will provide a report to Newfoundland and Labrador's minister of justice and public safety.

Premier Dwight Ball has said he will make the report public.