Hearing underway for Mountie accused of sexual assault

A police officer faces disciplinary action for allegedly sexually abusing another RCMP officer.

A quasi-judicial hearing on his code of conduct began this week for Cpl. Kire Kondoski, most recently assigned to Edmonton’s Major Crimes Unit.

In January 2021, the officer was charged with sexual assault following an ASIRT investigation. The public prosecutor’s office withdrew the charges in September of the same year.

A 2022 request by Kondoski to stay the hearing on his conduct was denied by the panel of arbitrators.

On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, the complainant, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, gave evidence at the hearing on her conduct held in Edmonton.

She says the two met in the spring of 2018 and soon became a couple. Kondoski was married at the time.

The woman says she was uncomfortable with his marital status and felt the relationship was being kept secret. One evening that summer, Kondoski came to her house and she ended the relationship.

The woman says Kondoski then sexually abused her.

“I said very clearly: No, I don’t want to do that,” she said.

The woman said she could hardly believe what had happened and was afraid that no one would believe her any more than they would a police officer.

“The huge guilt I imposed on myself because of my job was and still is one of the biggest challenges,” the woman said.

“It’s something I have to actively push out of my mind every day.”

She finally reported the incident in February 2020.

The woman said the event had deeply affected her and she now suffers from anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.

She is currently on sick leave.

An RCMP spokesman said Kondoski has been suspended with pay since January 2021.

The cross-examination begins

Kondoski’s lawyer questioned why the woman attended a social event he was attending about a year after the alleged assault. He said she could have made up an excuse not to go and suggested she had intended to rekindle her relationship with the corporal.

The woman said she tried to act as if nothing unusual had happened.

She was also questioned about a profile that included her name and picture on a recruitment site for actors and models, saying seeking work or compensation would violate the terms of her permanent disability.

The woman denied knowing about the profile or having any ambitions as an actress.

Lawyers later told the judge that the woman had made the profile private during a break. A member of the professional responsibility division was called to take a statement from the woman.

The cross-examination is expected to continue on Thursday.