CRCC releases report on RCMP handling of a sexual assault complaint and death of Nova Scotia woman

Report findings

The CRCC made 72 findings, including:

The investigation into Ms. Butlin's sexual assault complaint against a neighbour by members of the Bible Hill RCMP detachment was seriously inadequate. RCMP members did not take reasonable steps to keep Ms. Butlin safe. She was treated without respect or care.
The RCMP failed to investigate or properly document reports that Ms. Butlin was being threatened and intimidated by the neighbour. Appropriate documentation would have enabled RCMP members to identify the escalating risks to Ms. Butlin's safety. The RCMP did not warn her about these risks or take steps to protect her from the neighbour, who ultimately took her life.
At the request of the judge who reviewed Ms. Butlin's application for a peace bond (protection order) against the neighbour, the RCMP conducted a review of Ms. Butlin's file. Instead of addressing deficiencies, reviewers perpetuated the original errors, questioned Ms. Butlin's credibility, and suggested she could be charged with public mischief if she misled police.
RCMP members who investigated the complaint relied on harmful myths and stereotypes about sexual assault.
The RCMP did not have effective systems in place to identify or fix problems in how the case was handled. Despite past commitments, the RCMP has not done enough to address the high rate of sexual assault complaints it dismissed as unfounded in some jurisdictions, including the Bible Hill detachment.

Report recommendations

Based on its findings, the CRCC made 79 recommendations, including that the RCMP:

Create specialized units in every division to handle and oversee sexual assault cases and require all such cases to be referred to them, and bolster the existing processes for external reviews of sexual assault files.
Provide operational guidance to the members and the supervisors involved in investigating Ms. Butlin's complaint (see recommendations 1-38) to address investigative deficiencies. This includes operational guidance related to:
- the law of sexual assault and consent, and the dangers of relying on myths and stereotypes in sexual assault investigations;
- the importance of respectful, trauma-informed communication with complainants, victim support obligations, and referrals to victim services; and
- the importance of safety planning and appropriate guidance regarding peace bond applications.
Review all past sexual assault investigations conducted by the member who took Ms. Butlin's complaint and ensure he is not permitted to investigate sexual assault complaints until he has received all of the recommended operational guidance.
Require training for all members who respond to or investigate sexual assault cases.
Update policies to better support victims and prioritize their safety, and use a trauma‑informed approach.
Measure and publicly report on whether improvements are being achieved.

RCMP response

The RCMP Commissioner has agreed with a significant majority of the CRCC's findings and recommendations and committed to creating specialized sexual assault units and making several changes to improve these investigations.

Full report and implementation

The CRCC's report and the RCMP's response are available on the CRCC's website.

The RCMP posts the implementation status of CRCC recommendations to its website.

About the CRCC

The CRCC is an agency of the federal government, distinct and independent from the RCMP. Our mission is to deliver a robust complaint process that holds the RCMP accountable for its activities and the conduct of its members. The CRCC's mandate is to receive complaints from the public about the conduct of RCMP members; conduct reviews when complainants are not satisfied with the RCMP's handling of their complaints; initiate complaints and investigations into RCMP conduct when it is in the public interest to do so; review specified activities; report findings and make recommendations; and promote public awareness of the complaint process.

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More Information

Email: Media@crcc-ccetp.gc.ca.
Website: www.complaintscommission.ca

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