Obgist | Nigeria News, Celebrity Scoop, International Gist and Tech News

Former Canadian sergeant guilty after using police database to contact women, including domestic abuse victims, for personal relationships.

A former police sergeant in Canada has admitted to abusing his position to access confidential records and pursue intimate relationships with dozens of women, including survivors of domestic violence.

The ex-officer, 53-year-old Robert Eric Semenchuck, pleaded guilty in court on November 21 to breach of trust and unauthorized use of a computer. 

He served for 22 years with the Regina Police Service in Saskatchewan before the scandal became public.

Investigators found that Semenchuck repeatedly searched a protected police database to obtain personal details of women he later contacted. Some of them had no idea they were speaking to a police officer.

According to interviews by The Globe and Mail, Semenchuck used aliases such as “Jay Lewis” and “Steve Perkins.” He often introduced himself as a contractor or project manager, then kept the conversations going for months or even years.

One victim, identified as “K,” said the messages began while she was in a women’s shelter recovering from domestic violence. She described the contact as a “lifeline” during a difficult moment, and they exchanged messages for four years.

However, her doubts grew in 2023. After running a photo he sent through facial-recognition software, the image matched Semenchuck dressed in police gear.

She said the discovery left her terrified. “One of the first things that hit me was fear — fear of his power and what he could do,” she recalled. She eventually reported him, prompting a two-year internal investigation.

Another woman, known as “C,” said she was contacted by a man calling himself “Steve.” Their relationship lasted more than a year. She later described him as controlling and s£x-obsessed, adding that he constantly pressured her to send explicit photos. She was left wondering why he targeted her in the first place.

Semenchuck, who once received multiple policing awards, was charged in March 2025. He resigned the following month. 

At the time, then-Police Chief Farooq Sheikh apologized publicly, noting that such misconduct damages trust between the police and the community.

The Regina Police Service has since introduced new measures to prevent a repeat of the incident. These include strict audit procedures, additional staff training, and constant reminders that the police database must be used strictly for investigations.

A judge has fixed January 23 for Semenchuck’s sentencing. Up to 20 victim impact statements are expected to be presented during the hearing.