Saskatoon police officer charged with sexual assault

Military police have charged a 16-year veteran member of the Saskatoon Police Service with sexual assault.

Constable Robert Brown was charged Tuesday by officers from the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service.

The charge comes in relation to an incident reported at a Remembrance Day event held Nov. 11, 2017 at the Sgt. Hugh Cairns VC Armoury, located on Idylwyld Drive.

Brown is accused of sexually assaulting a civilian who was attending the event.

In addition to his position with police, Brown holds the rank of Master Warrant Officer as a member of the Canadian Army Reserve serving with the North Saskatchewan Regiment.

Saskatoon police issued a media release Thursday indicating Brown was off-duty at the time of the alleged assault.

Major Jean-Marc Mercier, a public affairs officer for the Canadian Forces Military Police Group, said it was unclear whether Brown attended the event in his military uniform or whether he was simply there as a member of the public.

Mercier said the decision to have military police officers handle the investigation would have arisen following discussion with the Saskatoon Police Service.

“In many cases, you’ll have more than one police service that will have jurisdiction on a case. And then it’s negotiated, basically, between the two entities as to who will take the lead on an investigation,” he said.

Brown has been suspended from his police duties with pay while his case is being dealt with in court.

Although he was charged by military police, Brown’s case will be handled by a civilian court.