Pictures of the Ottawa Police officer who used police databases like a dating site have now surfaced online.
According to the settlement agreement, Constable Jerome Rabiha-Stevens admitted to running dozens of unauthorized searches on women he met at the gym so he could identify them, find their social media, and try to contact them. He also searched his ex-partner’s parents, the woman he was having an affair with, and dozens of random people with no connection to any police work. He even admitted during the investigation that he “became obsessed.”
Instead of Ottawa Police proactively releasing his photo so the public — especially women and girls — could be aware of this behaviour, including how he used his marked cruiser to confront his ex and her new boyfriend at a Tim Hortons and damaged a vehicle, the photos only came out after the fact. People deserve to know who was given access to sensitive personal information and used it for personal reasons.
To make this even more concerning, Ottawa Police have now been authorized to use facial recognition on their body cameras. When officers have already abused police databases by treating them like a dating site, should they be trusted with even more powerful surveillance tools while the same officer still has access to those same systems?
This is exactly why people are losing trust. When disturbing behaviour like this happens and the only consequence is an 18-month demotion with no criminal charges, while new surveillance powers are being handed out, it sends a clear message that accountability is not a priority.
Women and the public have a right to be aware and protected.
Canada Cop Watch