Edmonton police officer who used job to pursue women gets 6 months in jail

An Edmonton police officer, who used his position to pursue sexual relationships with vulnerable women he met on duty, has been sentenced to six months in jail.

Const. Hunter Robinz, 39, pleaded guilty last year to breach of trust, admitting that he made sexual advances toward eight different women from 2017 to 2019. The women's names are covered by a publication ban.

The women all needed police help: calling to report a break-in, seeking help for a suicidal family member or getting assistance for a domestic violence situation, among other issues. Robinz subsequently sought them out after meeting them on the job and sent unsolicited, inappropriate messages.

In the final incident that ultimately prompted the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), the province's police watchdog, to investigate Robinz's conduct, the officer returned to the home of a woman he'd helped earlier that day, when he and his EPS partner found her intoxicated and distressed in a public park.

Robinz used the woman's key to let himself inside the house and aggressively pursued her, kissing her several times while she repeatedly asked him to leave.

Calling Robinz's conduct "predatory," Court of King's Bench Justice Susan Bercov said Friday that a jail term is necessary to denounce his actions.

"A strong message must be sent, that these types of abuses of authority will not be tolerated and that there will be significant consequences for those who engage in this behaviour," she said.

Police officers rarely get jail time after a criminal case. ASIRT's public statistics on police charges lists just two other instances since 2009: an RCMP officer who was convicted in a theft and fraud case, and a Calgary police officer found guilty of assault in a violent 2016 arrest.

Robinz's defence lawyer, Allan Fay, argued for a period of house arrest instead of jail time, which Bercov ultimately rejected. Her sentence additionally imposes a two-year probation period.

The judge spoke about how, in this case, the women's victim impact statements illustrate the damage of reaching out for help, only to be victimized again by someone in authority.

"I am satisfied Mr. Robinz's actions have caused significant, serious and widespread damage. Not only to the women, but to the community as well," Bercov said.

"I applaud the courage of the women who came forward to report the offences, who were willing to testify and who provided victim impact statements. Their courageous actions prevented other women from being victimized."

Crown prosecutor John Schmidt also credited the women who reported the misconduct for Friday's outcome.

"More than anything, what we would like to express is our sincere thanks and appreciation for the eight women who came forward — who had the courage that it takes to speak out something like this," he said.

Officer acknowledges 'unacceptable' behaviour

Robinz has been suspended without pay from EPS since the end of 2021, when he was charged with sexual assault, unauthorized use of a computer database and two counts of breach of trust.

After his guilty plea to one count of breach of trust, the Crown withdrew the other charges.

A police disciplinary investigation follows the end of criminal proceedings, according to an EPS spokesperson.

Robinz's defence lawyer previously told the court that, regardless of the ultimate sentencing outcome, there's "little doubt" his client will never work as a police officer again.

Robinz apologized in court on Friday.

"I am sorry for my behaviour. I'm sorry to my family, my friends and obviously the complainants for the pain I caused them. It was unacceptable. I was in a crisis and I didn't know," he said.

The court heard Robinz has been diagnosed with PTSD and alcohol use disorder, which is connected to his past military service in Afghanistan.

In Bercov's decision, she accepted that those mental health issues likely played a part in some of his conduct. In addition to Robinz's guilty plea, it's one of the mitigating factors in his sentence.