City concerned about confidential documents after Kamloops mayor’s dealership ransacked

If the mayor of Kamloops had municipal records in his business when it was ransacked, city hall wants to know, but he isn’t saying.

The inside of the building is a scene of chaos, with glass smashed, papers strewn and belongings damaged, but Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson has so far not detailed anything that’s missing if there was anything stolen at all.

His claims that he started using the space for city-related meetings at the used car dealership, however, prompted concern from staff and council about privacy breaches.

“We have no idea, since the mayor decided to use that space as his city hall office, what he had in there that should properly have been at city hall. We have no way of knowing this,” July’s deputy mayor, Coun. Dale Bass said.

Police are investigating a report that Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson’s business property, formerly operating as Tru Market Auto Sales, was broken into earlier this week.

The city has several measures restricting his access to confidential or sensitive documents, prompted by numerous privacy investigations over the past three years. But, he won’t say whether any city records were even in the building he claims to have used as an office.

But, it’s not just about documents from city hall. Any record he creates like meeting notes are also municipal government records.

Bass and city staff have asked Hamer-Jackson whether any municipal documents were in the building and whether he will now use his city hall office, but he did not respond to the questions.

Hamer-Jackson has refused to answer questions from iNFOnews.ca about the break-in complaint and did not answer phone calls.

As the police investigation continues, they will alert city staff if they come across any municipal documents.

iNFOnews.ca reached out city councillors about the incident with Stephen Karpuk and Mike O’Reilly responding to share in their concerns.

“On the front of protecting the corporation and doing our fiduciary duty, we are very concerned that there may be documents in the mayor’s auto shop,” O’Reilly said. “He has told the public over and over that is his mayor’s office. We’re not sure and only mayor Hamer-Jackson can answer that.”

The circumstances around the incident remain murky. It’s not clear what the motive was behind the vandalism and though Hamer-Jackson has made accusations about who might have done it, he used it to further his seemingly futile desire for a forensic audit of shelter and supportive housing organizations.

It’s not clear whether the building has surveillance footage of the incident. There appear to be no cameras on the outside. There is at least one inside, but it points toward the exterior and is blocked by a sign advertising his property as up for sale.

It appears someone broke in through one of the side doors and smashed the inside. Red paint with shoe prints is spilled near a west side door, while the same paint is on a door knob on the east with hand prints on the wall.

Neighbouring businesses canvassed by iNFOnews.ca did not have any knowledge nor camera footage of the break-in or refused to comment.

Kamloops RCMP confirmed in a media release sent late in the day Thursday that the break-in happened sometime between July 21 and July 24. Investigators are looking for witnesses and surveillance video.

Asked whether he filed an insurance claim on the break-in, Hamer-Jackson said in a text message “memories are priceless.”

He has long complained of criminal activity in the area around his business on West Victoria Street. That, along with the ongoing problem of poverty and the toxic drug crisis, largely prompted his run for mayor in 2022.

Immediately after his election, a vehicle on his property went up in flames and, so far, no one has been charged.

Neighbouring businesses have also had issues with vandalism over the years and sometimes thefts, which has remained persistent for several years. Nearby auto shops, for example, often face damage to customer vehicles if they are left outside, so most try to store them in their buildings when they can. 

Though Tru Market has also faced damage and thefts from vehicles on the lot, it appears to be the first time a break-in has occurred. Hamer-Jackson hasn’t been actively selling vehicles on the lot since he was elected.