Yellowknife Mounties who arrested a victim of sexual assault instead of taking her to the hospital faced limited options, and were acting within their authority and with the safety of the victim in mind, says G Division boss Insp. Alex Laporte.

In May of last year, 25-year-old Wade Kapakatoak sexually assaulted an intoxicated woman in a downtown alley. Kapakatoak was arrested shortly after the assault. The victim was, too. She  was housed in detachment cells overnight. After a territorial judge slammed the arrest, Yellowknife Mounties opened an internal review, which they made public last week.

None of the involved officers faced discipline as a result of the review.

Laporte, officer in command at the Yellowknife detachment, said the decision was made after the review found the arresting officers werenSA国际影视传媒檛 neglecting their duty and that they made no obvious mistakes or committed any criminal acts.

Laporte believes his officers acted by the book and with compassion when they were called to a SA国际影视传媒渇luidSA国际影视传媒� and SA国际影视传媒渦niqueSA国际影视传媒� situation behind the alley behind Capitol Theatre, where the assault occurred.

SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檙e faced with someone who is under the influence, who is uncooperative, a vulnerable person in a vulnerable position. The members involved with this at this time, their mindset is: SA国际影视传媒榟ow can we now provide a safe place for that person?SA国际影视传媒橲A国际影视传媒� said Laporte.

Expressed consent, Laporte said, is needed from police before the officers can transport a victim to the hospital. With this particular victim of sexual assault, consent wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 given, leaving Mounties will little options, he said.

Under the Liquor Act SA国际影视传媒� used to arrest the intoxicated victim in May 2017 SA国际影视传媒� Laporte said his officers are within their authority to arrest or detain victims and others if SA国际影视传媒渨e have concerns for their well-being and safety ...  as insensitive as that appears.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淲e get it. We get that victims should not be in cells,SA国际影视传媒� said Laporte. SA国际影视传媒�(Officers) made the decision that the best place for that person to rest, be monitored and be safe was in a police cell in our custody here.SA国际影视传媒�

Laporte stressed the last resort practice is not meant to be punitive, but rather to provide a safe space for vulnerable members of society, when all other avenues, including the Day and Sobering Centre, the hospital and Street Outreach program, have been exhausted.

But the divisionSA国际影视传媒檚 top boss canSA国际影视传媒檛 guarantee a similar incident wonSA国际影视传媒檛 happen again.

SA国际影视传媒淚 canSA国际影视传媒檛 guarantee it. All I can say is that ... we are better equipped now in Yellowknife with social initiatives in place for our officers to solicit the support for the benefit of that person,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淏ut weSA国际影视传媒檙e making every attempt for this not to happen and we have demonstrated this in our positioning for years now,SA国际影视传媒� said Laporte.

Asked whether whether there is a problem with the culture SA国际影视传媒� a criticism made by MLA Julie Green to CKLB SA国际影视传媒� among the ranks, Laporte said he has confidence in his officers.

SA国际影视传媒淲e are accountable, I hold people accountable. We have a group of police officers in Yellowknife who are servicing this community with great compassion and respect and  weSA国际影视传媒檙e proud of this, ISA国际影视传媒檓 proud of this,SA国际影视传媒� said Laporte.