By Dale Boyd
An RCMP officer based in Osoyoos is facing a charge of committing an indecent act in Penticton in 2018, and is currently suspended with pay while awaiting a code of conduct hearing in January.
The RCMP confirmed that a constable is facing one count under the Criminal Code of allegedly committing an indecent act in a public place in the presence of one or more persons, or in any place with intent to insult or offend any person.
In an email to the Osoyoos Times from S/Sgt. Janelle Shoihet, she said the constable is currently suspended with pay and his duty status is continuously assessed. She noted an internal code of conduct investigation has been launched and a conduct hearing is scheduled for Jan. 14, 2020 in Penticton.
The constable worked with the Federal Serious and Organized Crime unit operating out of Osoyoos, and was not a regular member of the Osoyoos RCMP detachment.
According to court documents seen by the Times, the officer is alleged to have willfully committed an indecent act “to wit: touching his penis,” on Sept. 29, 2018 in Penticton, the court documents allege.
The officer is also scheduled to face a code of conduct hearing on Jan. 14 in Penticton for one allegation of breaching section 7.1 of the RCMP code of conduct — the section relates to “discreditable conduct.”
