‘There’s no justice,’ says complainant as RCMP officer retires before misconduct hearing
A high-ranking RCMP officer has decided to retire rather than face a disciplinary hearing over allegations of sexual misconduct involving a colleague, according to information obtained by Radio-Canada. The staff sergeant, who was twice the age of the complainant in her 20s at the time of the alleged events, engaged in flirtatious text messages and brief sexual encounters in 2022 and 2023.
The decision to retire rather than appear before a conduct hearing means that the experienced police officer will avoid public disclosure of the allegations, which would have been made available on the RCMP’s website. According to data obtained by Radio-Canada, 74 RCMP employees have chosen to retire after being called to appear before a conduct hearing between 2020 and 2024. While these individuals are allowed to keep their pension, the matter is noted on their human-resources file and can be shared with future employers during reference checks.
The woman who filed the complaint against the staff sergeant expressed disappointment with the outcome, stating, “There’s no justice being done for [complainants], and their cases are just swept under the rug because we’re protecting officers who are doing bad things.”
RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme emphasized that inappropriate behavior, including relationships involving a power imbalance, is not tolerated within the organization. He commended those who come forward to report such behavior and assured that they would be supported throughout the process.
The incidents involving the staff sergeant and the complainant began when they met at an RCMP building gym in 2022 and later socialized at the Mess, a workplace bar. Their interactions escalated to include flirtatious text messages, gifts, and brief physical encounters. The complainant, who was in her early 20s at the time, stated that she felt pressured to continue the relationship due to the staff sergeant’s position of authority.
After the student decided to end the relationship, she filed an official complaint with the RCMP in August of 2023. Following an investigation and review by RCMP lawyers, the organization determined that there were grounds to proceed with a conduct hearing aimed at dismissing the staff sergeant.
However, the staff sergeant opted to retire before the hearing took place, leading to the closure of the case. Former Supreme Court justice Michel Bastarache, who produced a report on harassment in the RCMP in 2020, criticized the federal police force for failing to address systemic issues. Lead plaintiff in the 2012 class-action lawsuit against the RCMP, Janet Merlo, echoed these sentiments, stating that the organization has not made significant strides in addressing discrimination and harassment.
The retirements of RCMP officers facing disciplinary action raise concerns about accountability and transparency within the organization. The decision to retire rather than face consequences for misconduct raises questions about the effectiveness of internal disciplinary processes and the commitment to addressing systemic issues within the RCMP.
