Child pornography charges laid against Alberta RCMP officer

A constable with the RCMP stationed at its St. Paul, Alta., detachment has been charged with child sexual exploitation offences. 

Evan Peacock, 33, was arrested Thursday and charged with two counts each of possessing, distributing and accessing child pornography, according to an Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams news release. 

ALERT is an integrated policing unit made up of provincial law enforcement resources with a focus on serious and organized crime.

ALERT's Internet Child Exploitation unit began its investigation in November 2023 when the suspect allegedly uploaded two videos depicting child sexual exploitation to Snapchat. 

"While the investigation and charges are related to online offences, the nature of the suspect's employment placed him in a position of trust and authority," the news release said.

"ICE is encouraging anyone with information about this case to come forward and contact police."

Peacock, a three-year member of the RCMP, has been suspended with pay.

The unit received the information from the RCMP's National Child Exploitation Crime Centre, and the identity of the suspect was only learned late this month, the release said. 

"ICE investigators acted expeditiously to make an arrest," the release said. 

Police said they seized evidence from the suspect's St. Paul home and will be conducting a forensic investigation on devices seized. 

St. Paul is located about 190 kilometres northeast of Edmonton. 

The charges relate to the possession, distribution and accessing of child pornography between Sept. 17-20, 2022, and around Nov. 8, 2023, at or near St. Paul, according to the official charge sheet.

Charges 'distressing and disturbing'

Edmonton-based RCMP Sgt. Kerry Shima, the acting officer in charge for the ICE unit, said the case is disturbing. 

"As police officers ourselves, we find it a little distressing and disturbing," he said. 

"We deal with thousands of cases every year and as much as we don't want that to happen, we know it could be anybody."

He said there is no indication that the children seen in the videos shared are "new victims" but they were victims nonetheless.

He adds that nothing in the evidence gathered to date suggests that there may be additional victims but anyone with information on the case is urged to come forward. 

He said it's troubling that the allegations faced by the accused will undermine public trust in the police. 

"It's not a complicated investigation necessarily," he said.

"Where it becomes complicated, or where it becomes very sensitive and concerning, is that it's a police officer, somebody who typically the public will inherently trust just by virtue of their position in the community. And that's what makes it very troubling for everybody." 

Peacock's next scheduled court appearance is May 23 in St. Paul.