Edmonton police officer fired for sexually assaulting colleague during off-duty trip
An Edmonton Police Service constable with more than seven years of service has been fired after a disciplinary hearing found him to have sexually assaulted an officer during an off-duty ski trip.
In a recently released decision, presiding officer Fred Kamis, retired RCMP chief superintendent, ordered the immediate termination of Const. Stephen Fossen for groping a fellow officer during a trip to Canmore in January 2019.
During that trip, the documents say a group of officers had rented a condo and brought along a "booze bag" and blood alcohol screening device.
After a night of drinking and playing card games, the documents state that Fossen attempted to sleep, but his roommate snored loudly. He went to sleep on a chair when the victim offered to share her bed with him.
A publication ban covers the victim's identity.
“No invitation to engage in sexual activity was made by the victim,” Kamins wrote. “She was in her sleeping attire and under the covers. Const. Fossen was dressed in sweatpants and a hoodie and carried his own pillow and blanket and lay down on top of the bed covers next to the victim."
"The victim awoke to find Const. Fossen's arm over top of her and his hand touching her genitals," Kamis added.
Fossen later sent a text message to the female officer apologizing for the assault, blaming the incident on "drunk Fozzie."
In 2019, Fossen was charged with sexual assault in connection to the incident following an investigation by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team. The criminal charges were withdrawn at the victim's request.
Since then, Fossen had been suspended without pay. Kamins said that Fossen had "an excellent reputation" among the service with no prior discipline issues.
"By all accounts, Const. Fossen was an excellent police officer," Kamins noted. "He was a mentor to many and, to my mind, the embodiment of an informal leader."
Despite that, Kamis said Fossen was in a position of trust, which he violated.
"(The victim) was unconcerned with sharing the bed under the circumstances because it was a trusted colleague," the disciplinary hearing's presiding officer wrote. "Unfortunately, that trust was misplaced, and the sexual assault took place."
Teresa Magee, the presenting officer representing EPS Chief Dale McFee, said Fossen should be removed from the service since there would be "community outrage" if he were to continue working.
Defence lawyer Bob Hladun argued that dismissal was "ridiculous" as a sanction and that Fossen had been punished for three years while being suspended without pay.
Hladun added that "public confidence" would not be "so easily shattered," rather, community members would be worried that after EPS invested time and resources into training Fossen, his firing would "be of concern" after "one spur of the moment, drunken act."
Kamis said it was an "egregious" breach of trust since police officers need to be able to trust each other completely in any situation, meaning dismissal was "within the realm" of appropriate sanctions.
Fossen also had "consistently denied" the allegation of misconduct, tried to hide it when questioned by his supervisor, and did not demonstrate remorse, Kamis added.
"His actions in taking advantage of a junior female officer and the situation call into question whether he could ever be placed into a policing position without constant monitoring due to his lack of integrity," Kamis said.
"A clear and strong message needs to be sent now, more than ever, that this misconduct will result in serious sanction."
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Karyn Mulcahy
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.