SEPTEMBER 3, 2023

"Mackenzie confided to Kerr she had found videos in January 2006 that she alleged implicated her then-husband, former Const. Joe Kohut, and other RCMP officers in the abuse of young First Nations women."

https://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/allegations-that-b-c-rcmp-officers-abused-indigenous-women-swept-under-the-carpet-ex-mountie

Retired Staff Sgt. reveals the long held secrets.

Handout photo of Staff Sgt. Garry Kerr from 2010 while working in the Kamloops RCMP detachment.

"Mackenzie (Cst. Lisa Mackenzie) confided to Kerr (Retired Staff Sgt. Gary Kerr) she had found videos in January 2006 that she alleged implicated her then-husband, former Const. Joe Kohut, and other RCMP officers in the abuse of young First Nations women."

"Mackenzie sobbed to Kerr that back in 2006, after reviewing what she alleged were the handful of incriminating tapes, she went to Staff Sgt. Bill Goughnour and he told her to hide them and tell no one."

"A day or two later, she claimed, while she was on patrol on Jan. 24, 2006, Kohut kicked in the door of her home and stole the tapes — but he missed one that she had set aside. Kohut denied any wrongdoing and was not charged with any offence."

It is no surprise Commissioner Bob Paulson did nothing.

"He retired in 2012, but by 2015, still having heard nothing, Kerr wrote to then-Commissioner Bob Paulson asking him to investigate. Paulson told Chief Supt. Derren Lench to look into it."

"Paulson reiterated the chief superintendent’s views in a letter to Kerr — that the allegations were fully addressed and a “Crown” legal opinion concluded “the file was civil, and that the tape did not contain evidence of criminal wrongdoing.”

"He (Kerr) fumed: “In a nutshell, from the time we informed them in 2011 … it was nothing but lies. There never was a goddamn investigation. Nothing. It was swept under the carpet."

“I went to (then-RCMP deputy commissioner) Craig Callens [Now retired]. We had worked together. … I told him what Lisa told me. There was a long pause and he said, ‘Do you realize the ramifications of the information you just told me?’”

The RCMP said it is working on meeting the recommendations.

Kerr shook his head: “This involved the alleged sexual abuse of young First Nations girls. At the highest levels, the RCMP turned a blind eye (and) failed to act.”

Mackenzie, 49, retired in November and is suing the force.