RCMP doing ‘fulsome review’ of interrogation of sexual assault victim by Kelowna Mountie

KELOWNA (NEWS 1130) — An investigation into a Kelowna Mountie’s 2012 interrogation is now underway after a controversial video was released that appeared to show a male officer dismissing a girl’s sexual assault report.

The release of the video last month sparked outrage, with the Mountie telling the Indigenous teen ‘you just went along with it,’ and asking her if she was ‘turned on’ when she was attacked by an acquaintance.

RELATED: Province looking at changes after cop seemingly dismisses girl’s sexual assault report

The RCMP has said little publicly on allegations, but Saturday, RCMP Deputy Commissioner Jennifer Strachan released a statement addressing them.

In that statement, Strachan defends the lack of information disclosed, saying they were unable to comment because of limitations in the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the Privacy Act and because of on-going criminal investigations and lawsuits.

WATCH: Shocking video of RCMP officer questioning indigenous teen

She says the department has heard concerns, and that the interrogation “doesn’t appear to align with public expectations or the current standards and practices in place when addressing sex assault investigations and supporting victims.”

“We agree that on the surface this case doesn’t appear to align with public expectations or the current standards and practices in place when addressing sex assault investigations and supporting victims,” she says. “We also recognize that a negative experience with police investigators can bring more trauma to victims, and discourage others from reporting these crimes.”

While Mounties will not give any more specific details, the department emphasized it has changed the way it handles sexual assault investigations.

It emphasizes training for new officers on myths around sexual assault and consent.

Federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale has called the interrogation techniques shown in the video “abhorrent” and “profoundly outdated, offensive and wrong.”

B.C.’s Minister of Children and Family Development Katrine Conroy has also said she has spoken with the director of Child Welfare to see if changes can be made.

– With files from Adam Cooper

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