The Nova Scotia Police Review Board is hearing allegations of gun mishaps, drug use and inappropriate sexual behaviour among some RCMP officers whose former commander is now the province's justice minister.

Ambrose Heighton was fired as the police chief in Stellarton, N.S., two years ago. He is appealing his dismissal. (CBC)

The allegations are contained in an anonymous letter that was made public Monday at the hearing of Ambrose Heighton, a former police chief of the Town of Stellarton.

Heighton claims he was fired two years ago because he complained about RCMP in Pictou County. He is appealing his dismissal to the police review board.

Two letters were presented at his hearing Monday in Stellarton.

In one letter, Heighton complained about a poisoned relationship between the RCMP and municipal police departments.

He claimed publicity-seeking Mounties overrode the wishes of the Canadian military at the funeral of Cpl. Kevin Megeney, a local soldier killed in Afghanistan in March 2007. He said they provided a guard of honour just to get their picture in the media.

Heighton also forwarded an anonymous letter to the Department of Justice.

In it, the writer alleges sexually inappropriate conduct at a private party attended by RCMP members, as well as cocaine use. There are also claims that an off-duty RCMP officer dropped a service pistol while jogging and another lent a prohibited weapon to a girlfriend.

The letter also alleges that the RCMP district commander staff sergeant at the time, Ross Landry, was aware of these claims and did nothing about them.

The allegations have not been proven.

Nova Scotia Justice Minister Ross Landry was a senior RCMP official in charge at the time of the alleged misdeeds. (CBC)

Landry, who was named justice minister after the June 2009 election, may testify on Tuesday.

"I'm not going to comment overall on the evidence that's there," he told reporters on Monday. "But as the evidence proceeds here it will clearly show that I was in charge of the district and that it was a well-run district."

The justice minister usually is responsible for the police review board. But Landry has been relieved of this responsibility until a decision is made on Heighton's case.

Fired in 2008

Six complaints were filed against Heighton in November 2007. He was fired in October 2008 after the RCMP officers named in the anonymous letter complained to Stellarton's police commission.

The officers named in the letter tried to prevent it from being made public, but lost their fight.

RCMP Staff Sgt. Jim Gillis carried out a code-of-conduct review of the RCMP officers. He testified Monday there was a discussion with Landry about his inaction in disciplining members.

The RCMP said it would be inappropriate to comment on the results of its investigation into the anonymous allegations.

Two weeks have been set aside for Heighton's hearing.