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RCMP Officer Will Not Face Sexual Assault Charges

May
23

The province’s Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) released its report today regarding an allegation of sexual assault against a male member of the RCMP. No media release was issued at the time of the complaint to protect the integrity of the investigation.

In late December 2018, SiRT was contacted by the RCMP after a female complainant alleged she had been sexually assaulted by a male member of the RCMP, the Subject Officer (SO), on more than one occasion. She also alleged that another female known to her, the Affected Party (AP), had also been sexually assaulted several times by the same SO.  The initial complaint made by the complainant was in regard to two incidents involving herself and the SO, however, the investigator determined both incidents occurred outside of SiRT’s jurisdiction and prior to SiRT’s formation on April 20, 2012, consequently they were not investigated. The incidents involving the AP occurred in 2014 and within SiRT’s jurisdiction; therefore, the investigation focused on the incidents involving the AP.

As part of the investigation, SiRT interviewed the complainant, the AP and the SO.

In a statement obtained from the complainant, she said it was a conversation she had with the AP that led her to believe the AP had been sexually assaulted by the member and it was out of concern for the AP that she contacted the RCMP. The SO was then interviewed, and he denied having any sexual encounters with the AP but did confirm he was present at the locations where the alleged incidents took place. The AP stated that there had been three sexual encounters with the SO, but all encounters were consensual.  

The evidence gathered in this investigation establishes that there are no reasonable and probable grounds to conclude that the SO committed a sexual assault with respect to the AP. Therefore, there are no grounds to consider any charge against the SO.

The full report is available at http://sirt.novascotia.ca

SIRT is responsible for investigating all serious incidents involving police in Nova Scotia. Investigations are under the direction and control of independent civilian director Felix Cacchione, who is solely responsible for decisions respecting the laying of any charge.

 

Media Contact:

Felix Cacchione

Director

902-424-8400

Felix.Cacchione@novascotia.ca