Former Mountie sues province after police watchdog probe

An ex-Mountie has filed a $2-million lawsuit against the Manitoba government, claiming the province’s police oversight agency investigated him only after he raised concerns internally over the RCMP’s handling of sex offences and sexual harassment.

Former RCMP Const. Erik Grimolfson, 43, was charged in April 2022 with assault cause bodily harm and assault for two separate alleged 2021 incidents, one while on duty and the other off-duty.

The charges were laid by Crown prosecutors on the recommendation of the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba, the arms-length police watchdog that probes all incidents of serious injury or death involving officers. The IIU began investigating the incidents in July 2021.

The Crown stayed both charges last March, court records confirm. Grimolfson said in his lawsuit the stays were entered because there was “never a reasonable likelihood of conviction.”

In a statement of claim filed in the Court of King’s Bench on Grimolfson’s behalf by Winnipeg lawyer Stephen McIntosh on April 29, the former RCMP officer alleges the charges were laid to “silence and retaliate against him for his advocacy.”

The lawsuit is seeking at least $2 million in damages, including general, economic and aggravated damages, as well as interest and court costs.

Grimolfson’s court documents describe him as a “highly esteemed” RCMP constable for eight years, who was a “vocal advocate for the rights of the victims of sex crimes, in particular, Indigenous women and girls.”

“The plaintiff says that his reputation was been irreparably harmed by the actions and omissions of the the IIU.”– court documents filed by Winnipeg lawyer Stephen McIntosh on Erik Grimolfson’s behalf

“He has advocated internally against a lack of resources invested by the RCMP into sex crimes against the most vulnerable, and has escalated issues of sexual harassment within the RCMP to his superiors,” the court papers claim.

The lawsuit alleges the province, through the IIU, breached its duty of care to Grimolfson, including by initiating the investigation.

The court papers allege the IIU’s probe was negligent and did not meet the standards of specialized police investigators. Grimolfson claims the agency failed to interview relevant witnesses and never met the standard to lay charges.

Further, Grimolfson alleges the IIU was reckless and malicious in publishing a media release about the charges, claiming the release contained untrue and defamatory statements or innuendo.

“The plaintiff says that his reputation was been irreparably harmed by the actions and omissions of the the IIU,” read the court papers.

Grimolfson suffered psychological injuries as a result, the court documents claim, which forced him to retire early from his law enforcement career.

His lawsuit alleges he has been unable to work as a result of the IIU’s action, while his early retirement caused him to lose significant income and pension contributions from what would otherwise have been a “long, successful and prestigious career in law enforcement.”

The court papers claim the IIU’s action were “negligent, reckless, intentional, heavy-handed, malicious, egregious and extraordinary, and therefore merit an extraordinary and exceptional quantum of damages.”

The province has not yet filed its statement of defence.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca