Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

INUVIK (Jan 15/99) - Former Inuvik Const. Glen Gordon saw the Crown drop charges of sexual assault and forcible confinement against him Feb. 10, 1998.

However, information gathered during the criminal proceedings and the concurrent police investigation dredged up enough evidence for the RCMP to schedule the start an internal disciplinary hearing in Inuvik May 11.

Why has it taken so long for the officer, who is currently suspended with pay, to face internal RCMP justice?

"We only have so many people who prosecute these (cases) within the force," answers RCMP Staff Sgt. Tom Steggles, who is with internal investigations in Yellowknife.

Further, he says, the force had to consider witnesses and defence lawyers' schedules.

After the internal police investigation finished almost one year ago, Steggles says, "We feel this fellow conducted himself in a disgraceful manner that brings discredit to the force so we're going to implement formal discipline. To do that our system says we have to implement a hearing to make it fair and square."

The internal investigation prompted RCMP "upper management" to believe Gordon breached sections of the RCMP's Police Act.

"It was all part and parcel of sexual assault and forcible confinement. Those were the criminal charges," Steggles says.

"Although the crown felt that there wasn't a reasonable chance of success in a prosecution there, we feel there is under the RCMP Act."

Dismissal is the worst sanction Gordon could face at the hearing. Conversely, he could be reinstated to the force and found innocent of all counts.

The burden of proof is based on a balance of probabilities instead of a criminal trial's beyond reasonable doubt.

Three senior officers will sit on an adjudication board and at least one must have a legal background -- meaning a law degree.

Procedurally similar to a criminal court, Gordon will be represented by a member's representative who will act much like a defence lawyer.

Instead of a crown prosecutor, the RCMP commanding officer will be represented by what police call an appropriate officer's representative.

The hearing, set to start in Inuvik May 11 at 9 a.m., could last anywhere from a few days to a week, according to Steggles.