New BrunswickTwo New Brunswick police officers will face criminal charges in court next week, following separate investigations by the Serious Incident Response Team into allegations of sexual assault and domestic assault.Both accused to appear in court next week, says Serious Incident Response Team CBC News · Posted: Nov 04, 2025 2:35 PM EST | Last Updated: 2 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe Serious Incident Response Team investigation into the Saint John officer took about six months, while the RCMP one took about two months. (Submitted by SiRT)Two New Brunswick police officers will face criminal charges in court next week, following separate investigations by the Serious Incident Response Team into allegations of sexual assault and domestic assault.A Saint John Police Force sergeant with 37 years of service has been charged with sexual assault and breach of public trust, the force announced in a news release Tuesday.He is scheduled to appear in Saint John provincial court on Nov. 13.Meanwhile, a constable with the New Brunswick RCMP has been charged with two counts of assault and one count of uttering threats, according to a news release from SIRT.He is scheduled to appear in Saint John provincial court on Nov. 13 and Moncton provincial court on Nov. 17.Erin Nauss, director of the Serious Incident Response Team, or SIRT, said she has reasonable grounds to believe that the two officers committed criminal offences, based on separate investigations by the independent civilian-led agency. (Submitted by Erin Nauss)SIRT investigates all matters that involve death, serious injury, sexual assault and intimate partner violence or other matters determined to be of a public interest that may have arisen from the actions of any police officer on or off duty.The agency investigates matters in both New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.Accused of historical sex assaultOn Feb. 20, the Saint John police professional standards unit received a public complaint against a Saint John officer, the force said in its news release.On Feb. 24, as a result of the initial investigation and because of the nature of the allegations, the matter was referred to SIRT, said Staff Sgt. Sarah Hobbs.It was “an historical allegation,” according to SIRT, but no date or other details, including information about the alleged victim, are provided. The Saint John Police hold our members to the highest standard of accountability.- Robert Bruce, Saint John police chiefSIRT completed its investigation Sept. 2. In her report Tuesday, director Erin Nauss said she determined “there are reasonable and probable grounds to believe that [the sergeant] committed criminal offences.”As a result, the sergeant was charged Tuesday with sexual assault and breach of public trust and released on an undertaking, according to the force.He will be suspended, pending the criminal proceedings, Hobbs said. A New Brunswick Police Act investigation will follow, she said.“The Saint John Police hold our members to the highest standard of accountability,” Chief Robert Bruce said in a statement. “Complaints are taken very seriously and are thoroughly investigated.” The force declined to provide any other information, saying the matter is now before the courts.Assault investigation launched in JulyThe RCMP’s J Division in Fredericton contacted the watchdog agency on July 15 regarding allegations that a Mountie had committed domestic assault.Following an investigation, which was launched immediately and completed Sept. 9, the SIRT director concluded there are reasonable grounds to believe the constable committed criminal offences, the news release said.The constable was charged Nov. 3 in Moncton with assault and uttering threats and Nov. 4 in Saint John with a second count of assault.”As the matter is before the courts, and in consideration of the fair trial interests of the accused, SIRT will not provide further comment on the investigation,” the release said.
Saint John police sergeant charged with sexual assault, Mountie with domestic assault, watchdog says
