Quebec police retire before hearings over alleged sexual misconduct in Haiti

TwoQuebecprovincial police officers accused ofsex-related breacheswhile working asUnited Nations peacekeepers in Haitihaveretired before facing any disciplinary action, CBC News has learned.

The Sret du Qubec had an internalhearing scheduled for July 12for onesergeantunder investigation, buthe left the forceearlier in themonth,said SQ Capt. Guy Lapointe.

Another SQ sergeant who allegedly solicited sex from a Haitian prostituteretired last yearbefore the police forcehad scheduled hisdisciplinary hearing.

Over atwo-year periodbeginning in April 2013, the second officer was placed onadministrative dutyand a paid suspension until his retirement in April 2015,Lapointetold CBC.

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Both men will collect full pensions and neither one will face any sanctions now that they have retired, he said.

Adisciplinary hearing could have led to a suspension, a downgrading in rank or firing.

"You have to understand that if someone retires, we lose jurisdiction,"Lapointe said.

The two officers have not been publicly identified.

'Unacceptable'

TheRCMP, which oversees Canada's UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH),strictly prohibits intimate or sexual relations with members of the local population, due to "the difference in real or perceived power and authority."

The revelations raise fresh questions about Canada's ability to hold its peacekeepers accountable.

Haitian radio host slams police force's handling of allegations

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Jean Fils Aim, director of programming at CPAM, says the handling of the allegations makes him feel Haiti is treated like a "garbage can."

They come following a report earlier this year from CBC's French-language service Radio-Canada that at least two officers with the Montreal police fathered children while working as peacekeepers in Haiti.

I wouldimagine if this happened in Canada or United States, in a rich country... we would certainly see the rules enforced.- Jean Ernest Pierre, director ofa Haitian community radio station in Montreal

Jean Ernest Pierre, aMontreallawyer and the director of CPAM, a Haitian community radio station in the city, called the situation "unacceptable."

Pierre said Canada needs to make sure "the rules are respected" by the country's peacekeepers stationed abroad.

"I would imagine if this happened in Canada or United States, in a rich country ... we would certainly see the rules enforced."

Retiring to avoid hearings

Lapointecouldn't provide a number for how often police officers retire ahead of disciplinary hearings, which are public.

"Generally, you'll see this in cases where officers don't necessarily want the cases or the facts of the cases to be known, I would have to say. But I can't give you a number," he said.

The first officer is alleged to have had sexual relations with Haitian women between September 2014 and January 2015.

The officerwas brought back to Canada in February 2015 and assigned to administrative duty until his retirement from the SQin July 2016.

Theother officer allegedly attended a bar that was off limits to service members in Haiti, where hetried to obtain the services of a prostitute in January 2013, Lapointe said.

According to a source close to the investigation, thewoman alleged the officerthreatened her following a dispute over payment.Theofficerthen went AWOL and returned to Canada on his own.

A criminal investigation was launched but no charges were laid, the source said.The allegations have not been proven.

UN 'distressed' by cases of sexual exploitation

The United Nations released a report earlier this year detailingtheproblem of exploitation and sexual abuse by its personnel in Haiti and elsewhere.

The report said UN Secretary GeneralBan Ki-moon"remains distressed by continuing instances of sexual exploitation and abuse."

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Franois Lasalle, a spokesman for Canada's Department of Global Affairs, said byemailthat in cases where a police officer is repatriated, "disciplinary actionfor misconduct is the responsibility of the officer's home policeservice."

He added that the federal government is committed to improvingaccountability and "continues to engage with the UN to supportinitiatives which aim to prevent and combat all forms of sexualmisconduct by peacekeeping personnel."

In a statement, the RCMP said Canadian police officers in breach of its code won't be considered for future deployments to peace operations.

The RCMP said it won't comment on cases involving police officers from other police services.

Michael Fagan, a spokesman for the UN peacekeeping operations, said by email thatthe federal government has kept the UN up to date on the two cases.

He added that that theUNhas"no authority to sanction or criminally prosecute personnel under the exclusive jurisdiction of member states."

Lapointesaid he wants the public to remember the good work done in Haiti, despite the controversy.

"Over 100 officers have gone toHaiti from theSretduQubec," he said.

"Obviously, we don't want any of these cases, but let's not forget all of the amazing things that we'vedone there. I think that's important."

More on this story:

• Retired, not fired: Haiti case exposes gaps that let cops avoid disciplinary action
• Got a tip on this story? Send an email to benjamin.shingler@cbc.ca