The Canadian Forces Military Police have charged two members of the Royal Canadian Navy in relation to the 2025 death of Petty Officer 2nd Class Gregory Applin.
Applin, 38, died after the inflatable boat he was in overturned on Jan. 24, 2025, in the Halifax harbour after hitting an unlit buoy. He had been with the Royal Canadian Navy for 19 years and was from the community of Shoal Cove West, N.L.
On Wednesday, the the police announced Master Sailor David Terry with one count of criminal negligence causing bodily harm and one count of negligent performance of military duties. Police also charged Sailor 1st Class Alexandre Garrison with one count of dangerous operation of a conveyance causing death and one count of negligent performance of military duties.
The military police said Terry was serving in HMCS Montreal and Garrison was from the Naval Fleet School (Atlantic) at the time of the alleged offences.
“There is no doubt that this is difficult news for all of us, and it highlights the challenging realities of our service in the Royal Canadian Navy,” Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee and Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Pascal Harel said in a joint statement on the charges.
Topshee is the commander of the Royal Canadian Navy and Harel is the command petty chief offficer of the Royal Canadian Navy.
“We operate in a demanding environment where mistakes and errors can have fatal consequences, and we must be accountable for our actions and our inactions.”
Their statement goes on to say that there will be an independent, fair and impartial process for the two individuals accused and that they will have the opportunity to defend themselves.
“We are also extremely mindful that an incident like this almost never results from a single cause or single error, and it is most likely the outcome of a combination of factors.”
Topshee added the loss of Applin weighs heavily on the service and he extended condolences to the family.
Brigadier-General Vanessa Hanrahan, Canadian Forces Provost Marshal, in a statement said the military police investigation is now completed and if the charges proceed to full prosecution they will be tried in the military justice system.
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