On March 10, Kings District RCMP received a report of sexual assault involving Shane Connors, a civilian member of the RCMP. On March 13, after an initial investigation, Connors was arrested and later released on conditions.
On April 3, the Yarmouth/Clare RCMP Street Crime Enforcement Unit charged Connors with four counts of Sexual Assault under Section 271 of the Criminal Code. The charges relate to incidents involving a victim whom Connors met in the course of his employment with the RCMP, and some of the incidents occurred while he was on duty.
We immediately initiated a code of conduct process and I suspended Connors from duty. He will remain suspended as the code of conduct process continues and pending the outcome of the criminal code process.
I commend the victim's courage for coming forward and reporting these incidents, and for her support of the continuing investigation. The RCMP's victim services unit is engaged as are community-based supports.
The RCMP takes all allegations of sexual violence very seriously but when it involves an RCMP employee who is expected to conduct themselves in a manner that not only meets, but exceeds, the rightfully high expectations of Canadians, it's deeply disturbing.
As the Commanding Officer of the RCMP in Nova Scotia, I am fully committed to working in collaboration with advocates reviewing sexual assault files on gender-based, intimate partner and family violence issues and making our communities safer for all.
Media Release
The Nova Scotia RCMP has charged a civilian member (CM) of the RCMP with Sexual Assault.
On March 10, Kings District RCMP received a report of a woman having been sexually assaulted by a civilian member of the RCMP.
RCMP officers began investigating and learned the victim had been sexually assaulted on multiple occasions, and that the CM was on duty or travelling on government business at the time of some of the incidents. The Nova Scotia Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) was engaged; as the matter was not within SiRT's mandate, the RCMP continued with its investigation.
On March 13, Kings District RCMP arrested 46-year-old Shane Connors of Windsor Junction, who worked in the Nova Scotia RCMP's Protective Technical Services Section. He was later released on conditions. A/Commr. Daley, Commanding Officer of the Nova Scotia RCMP, has suspended Connors from duty and we can confirm that Connors has not worked since the allegation was received.
Today, the Yarmouth/Clare RCMP Street Crime Enforcement Unit charged Connors with Sexual Assault (4 counts) and he will appear in Yarmouth Provincial Court on May 8, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.
Investigators with the Nova Scotia RCMP are concerned there may be additional victims and are encouraging others to come forward by contacting their local police or RCMP detachment.