Disgrace to the Uniform

"You overpowered me, hurt me, held my arms so tight I couldn't move - violated me then made comments to me afterward that made me sick to my stomach."

When he left his home that evening on his way to a social occasion for the RCMP, bidding farewell to a fellow officer, he had been cautioned by his wife not to drink at the party. His predilection for drink-and-drunk, and previous unruly, bawdy incidents were to be avoided. But he arrived at the party prepared, bringing his own whiskey and beer, joining the other 40 Mounties already present, and cordially handing out shots of the Havana Club he'd thoughtfully brought along.

This much was typical; he aspired to become a law-and-security officer with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He was in his mid-30s, married, father of several young children. He had, in his younger years, experimented with cocaine. He was also socially attracted to alcohol. But he was inducted into the Force as having most of the characteristics that would result in a good officer, absent his earlier indiscretions. Taken on trust, that his position of trust would help him make the grade.

In the few years he was an officer of the RCMP he was accepted, respected and tracked. By 2008, however, it was clear his probationary acceptance which led to his full incorporation was in jeopardy. And when 2010 turned the corner he pleaded guilty to assault, sparing himself a criminal record, accepting an order to perform 100 hours of community service. Six months later at an RCMP disciplinary hearing he admitted to having sexually assaulted a fellow RCMP officer.

That hearing branded him a disgrace to the national police force.

"The board agrees that the consequences of a police officer's failed judgement can lead to the erosion of the cornerstone of the RCMP's organizational values. Society expects and deserves a high standard of honesty, trustworthiness and integrity from its police officers. A police officer is a person that occupies a position of trust and has a special role and status in the community. A breach of that contract of trust diminishes society's confidence, and impairs the ability of the force to effectively function within the communities it serves."

A female constable refused his offer of a shooter. He did not take kindly to the refusal and began to manhandle her. No one seemed to notice. He later cornered her in a kitchen, while he violently restrained her, groped her viciously and spouted obscenities at her. When, finally, other colleagues noticed her in tears, they sought him out and found him in a bathroom, passed out, dead drunk.

Not a very collegial atmosphere actually; he was driven home, and an investigation proceeded the following morning.

"How can a man I considered a friend, a co-worker, someone whom I have put my life in trust with and whom I have also supported on dangerous dispatches, make me a victim? I have relived the nightmare of that night in my mind a thousand times and still cannot believe it happened to me." The female RCMP officer delivered her victim impact statement to the disciplinary hearing, on the charge of sexual assault levelled against her former colleague, Constable Mario Jiminiz.

"The board is gravely concerned that Constable Jiminez has violated the trust of female members on two previous occasions. Furthermore, the board cannot be expected to believe the member's attempt to mitigate the disgraceful behaviour subject to his disciplinary hearing by asserting that he is a family man". The ruling that resulted was that Constable Jiminiz resign from the force within 14 days or be fired.

And although the RCMP attempted to fire him in June 2010, he has appealed his dismissal, remaining on the Force under suspension until the appeal, not yet scheduled, is heard.

The degrading personal shame his wife must feel on his behalf, must surely be mirrored by her husband. This lapse of moral character and disciplinary responsibility must be a source of grief to both their extended families. Worse yet, when their children are old enough to inform themselves how will they regard their father?