Canada’s military police oversight body released a critical report on Thursday regarding the mishandling of an investigation involving an air force officer who faced sexual assault charges and later died by suicide in early 2022.
Before his death, Maj. Cristian Hiestand expressed frustration to his family about not being heard after being accused of assaulting a woman he had recently broken up with. The Military Police Complaints Commission (MPCC) chair, Tammy Tremblay, revealed in a report that Hiestand had the chance to speak to investigators but chose not to following legal advice.
However, Tremblay highlighted that the military police failed to conduct an unbiased and thorough investigation, citing a rush to judgment and confirmation bias. Key issues like consent, crucial witness interviews, and the review of text messages between the alleged victim and accused were overlooked.
The report comes amidst controversy over the Liberal government’s proposed legislation aimed at addressing sexual misconduct in the military, facing resistance from certain victims, former military personnel, and opposition parties. The proposed bill seeks to transfer the authority to investigate and prosecute sexual assault cases from the military to civilian police and judges.
In response to complaints, the MPCC conducted a public hearing and produced two separate reports. The first report analyzed the case handling, while the second focused on the conduct of the military police detachment at Canadian Forces Base Moose Jaw, Sask.
The MPCC discovered several misconduct instances by the military police detachment leadership on the night of the reported sexual assault. The investigation led to 13 recommendations related to the Hiestand case and four concerning the conduct of military police officers. These recommendations aim to enhance investigative practices in sexual assault cases, including improved training on witness identification, digital evidence handling, and mandatory consultation with prosecutors before laying charges.
Despite the MPCC’s recommendations, the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal rejected most of them, raising concerns about accountability for the investigation’s shortcomings. Hiestand’s family expressed gratitude for the MPCC’s efforts but expressed disappointment over the military’s response to the findings.
The tragic incident involving Hiestand, a respected pilot and veteran, occurred in January 2022, a month after his arrest on sexual assault charges. An internal investigation by the Department of National Defence later cleared the military police officers involved of any wrongdoing.
If you or someone you know is in distress, resources such as the Suicide Crisis Helpline, Kids Help Phone, and the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention are available for support.
