Military left decision on whether to charge ‘Officer X’ to a commander with friendly ties to alleged assailant

Navy Lt. Patrick White testifies before a parliamentary defence committee on April 17, 2024. Photo by HOUSE OF COMMONS

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Military police concluded there was enough evidence to lay a sex assault charge against an individual known as “Officer X,” but the decision was left to a navy commander with friendly ties to the alleged assailant, according to documents obtained by the Ottawa Citizen.

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That commander decided not to lay charges, according to the records.

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The Ottawa Citizen originally broke the story about Officer X in March 2024, citing an internal Department of National Defence report and police investigations alleging multiple incidents of sexual misconduct dating back as far as 2006.

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Shortly after, Navy Lt. Patrick White testified before a Commons defence committee about what he said were Royal Canadian Navy attempts to cover up the actions of the man referred to in military records only as “Officer X” or “Lt. (N) X.”

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White told the committee on April 17, 2024 that military police concluded there was enough evidence to charge Officer X but the navy’s leadership instead decided he needed mentorship rather than punishment.

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A Feb. 7, 2024 Military Police Complaints Commission report, recently obtained by the Ottawa Citizen, showed that a military police officer wrote in the investigation file “the actions alleged against Lt (N) X met the requirements of two offences under the Act, namely the offence of sexual assault under the Criminal Code via section 130 and conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline under section 129.”

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The police investigation was then sent to Officer X’s unit, at the time HMCS Donnacona, according to the MPCC report. Donnacona is a naval reserve unit in Montreal.

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However, other documents obtained by the newspaper, show that Commander Mathieu Leroux, then commanding officer of HMCS Donnacona, decided not to proceed with any charges. “The fact that I have known him (Officer X) for a long time did not affect or influence my decision,” Leroux wrote in a response to White in August 2019.

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Leroux wrote that “I need to be convinced” that “the laying of a charge is in the interests of justice.” White, who reported allegations of sexual assault against Officer X, was told that administrative action would be taken against his alleged assailant.

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Leroux, since promoted to the rank of Royal Canadian Navy captain, declined an interview request from the Ottawa Citizen. DND sent the following statement in response: “As this matter involves personal information, the Department is required to safeguard it in accordance with the Privacy Act; accordingly, Capt(N) Leroux will not be providing an interview.”

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Asked whether Leroux’s longtime friendship with Officer X played a role in his decision not to recommend charges, DND spokesman Kened Sadiku noted in an email that, “Decisions related to charge disposition are made in accordance with the authorities and processes in place at the time, and with appropriate consultation.”

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“Specific information related to such matters constitutes personal information and must be safeguarded in accordance with the Privacy Act,” Sadiku added.