Sexual violence task force to present report in June: WRPS

A task force examining allegations of sexual assault handled by the Waterloo Regional Police Service has completed its review, with a report set to land in June.

The task force was established in early 2017 after a Globe and Mail story published data on the number of sexual assault cases that are dismissed by police forces across the country.

According to the Globe's numbers, between 2010 and 2014, 19 per cent of reported sexual assaults were later deemed to be unfounded by Canadian police services.

The WRPS, however, had a higher rate, at 27 per cent.

On Wednesday, WRPS Chief Bryan Larkin told the police board the task force has finished its work after examining nearly 80 randomly selected cases filed with the police service over the last decade.

"My understanding is that there was consensus — that the conclusion that was determined — and I don't have all the specific details — that we were not being asked to re-open or reinvestigate any of the 78 [cases]," Larkin said.

'Make change and move forward'

In addition to the report, Larkin said the task force authored a memorandum of understanding that outlines how sexual assault cases are to be reviewed in the future.

"It's a significant investment of time, but I think it speaks to the care and the commitment that we have with our partners to make change and move forward," Larkin said. "I think it's really impressive work they've done and I look forward to the results."

Members of the task force have publicly expressed concern about previous statements made by Larkin.

In January, five members published an open letter, saying they were very concerned about the police force's response to allegations filed as part of a $167-million class action lawsuit in which current and former female WRPS officers allege sexual harassment and discrimination.

Comments from Larkin as well as a lawyer representing the police service that defended the force were troubling, according to Lyndsey Butcher, a member of the task force and the executive director of The SHORE Centre.

Butcher worried it could give sexual assault victims pause about whether or not to report an incident to police.