A Nova Scotia Mountie abused his role when he pursued an intimate sexual relationship with the complainant in an assault case where he was the lead investigator, according to an RCMP code of conduct board ruling.
The adjudicator overseeing the case, Gina Lévesque, said the Mountie acted inappropriately and discredited the force.
“Police officers have a duty to protect vulnerable people. [He] failed to do that,” Lévesque wrote in her April decision, which was only made public late last month.
“This behaviour is serious.”
While the decision names the RCMP officer in question, CBC News has decided not to identify him because there are children involved.
The relationship between the Mountie and the woman, whose identity is protected in the decision and is only referred to as Ms. I, dates back to 2015 and its origin was kept secret from the RCMP and the prosecution.
According to the agreed-upon facts, Ms. I went to the police alleging her boyfriend at the time was verbally and physically abusive to her, including in the presence of her three-year-old child.
The officer in question was assigned as the lead investigator.
Not long into the investigation, he started an intimate personal, and later sexual, relationship with Ms. I. She became pregnant with their first of three children while the criminal case was ongoing, according to the decision.
After making the initial complaint Ms. I moved into a safe house, meant to shelter and provide counselling services to the victims of intimate partner violence and their children.
As part of the conduct hearing, the Mountie admitted that that he inappropriately visited the safe house to pursue an intimate sexual relationship with Ms. I. This amounted “to him placing his personal or private interests before his professional responsibilities as an RCMP officer,” according to the decision.
It said the Mountie worked regularly with the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service as lead investigator, but failed to inform the senior Crown attorney that he was in a relationship with Ms. I.
He “admits that he owed a professional responsibility to both the RCMP and also the administration of justice, to fully disclose his intimate sexual relationship with Ms. I. and assist with the orderly transition of himself off of [the file],” the decision said.
The ex-boyfriend was ultimately arrested for assault and forcible confinement and sentenced to six months in jail, according to the decision.
In 2022 the subject officer confided in a colleague about the relationship, ultimately spurring the disciplinary case.
“You confirmed to him that you ‘knew it was the wrong thing to do’ and that it was an inappropriate relationship. You abused your position and authority as a police officer to both pursue and later develop an intimate sexual relationship with Ms. I.,” wrote Lévesque.
“As a victim of intimate partner violence, Ms. I. was in a vulnerable position when you first met her as an RCMP officer. You took advantage of Ms. I. for your own personal sexual satisfaction purposes and your actions are discreditable.”
According to the decision, the Mounie and Ms. I entered a long-term consensual relationship. She opted not to testify as part of the disciplinary process.
After reviewing all the factors in the case, Lévesque considered what penalties the officer should face for abusing his position of trust and authority, including dismissal.
Lévesque said his behaviour was egregious but mitigating factors in the case, including that he and Ms. I have a family, warranted a lesser sanction.
The Mountie and a conduct representative for the Nova Scotia RCMP division presented a joint agreement to Lévesque, proposing a financial penalty of 40 days’ pay and a plan for the officer to work under close supervision for a year. She agreed it “sends a strong message of general deterrence within the force that this type of behaviour is not tolerated and will result in severe repercussions.”
The Nova Scotia RCMP division said a financial penalty of 40 days’ pay for a constable is approximately $17,500.
In response to CBC’s inquiry, the Mountie “respectfully declines providing an interview or comment.”
The RCMP has long grappled with issues related to sexual harassment. In 2020 it paid out $125 million in class-action settlement over harassment, discrimination and sexual abuse claims with more than 2,300 people in 2020.
Since then it’s introduced tougher sanctions for inappropriate behaviour, including relationships involving a superior in a position of authority.
Last year a Kelowna, B.C., RCMP officer resigned and admitted to sending sexually explicit messages to a victim of domestic assault. Earlier this year he was granted a conditional discharge meaning he won’t have a criminal record.
Former Surrey, B.C., Mountie Peter Leckie was administratively discharged in 2024 after he was sentenced to 18 months of house arrest for abusing his authority.
In that case, Leckie used a police database to look up a 19-year-old sex worker and sexual assault victim whose father had been murdered. Leckie went on to have a sexual relationship with her.
In 2023 the RCMP conduct board ordered the immediate firing of Connor McDonald, who took sexual advantage of a suicidal woman who’d just been released from hospital after being held under the Mental Health Act.
According to that decision, McDonald showed up at the woman’s house and had sex with her not long after he’d spent hours beside her hospital bed, according to a conduct board decision.
If you or someone you know is struggling, here’s where to look for help:
Canada’s Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 988.
Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868. Text 686868. Live chat counselling on the website.
Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention: Find a 24-hour crisis centre.
This guide from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health outlines how to talk about suicide with someone you’re worried about.
