Regina police chief Farooq Sheikh says public trust has been eroded after a police officer was accused of using internal databases to meet women.
Sheikh told reporters Thursday that the allegations against the officer, who has been suspended, do not reflect the values of the Regina Police Service.
"We want to be open, transparent and accountable for our actions," he said. "Public trust and confidence is paramount to the work that we do here and in communities."
Sgt. Robert Eric Semenchuck has been charged with breach of trust and unauthorized use of a computer.
The allegations against the 53-year-old senior officer were brought forward in 2023. Sheikh said Semenchuck was suspended that year. He has been a member of the police service for 22 years.
The accused allegedly sought personal and intimate relationships using information from the database, though Sheikh declined to provide further details, including how many women may have been contacted.
The chief said the women’s contact information was in the database for various reasons, including calls for service or because they were victims of crime.
"I don't want to go into too much of the detail. I'll wait for the court case," Sheikh said. "There may be more coming forward, which is why we released his photograph."
Sheikh said he is consulting with legal counsel to determine what additional sanctions the service may take against the officer.
The Regina Police Service is also implementing measures to prevent similar incidents, including new audit systems and training programs.
"We've notified all our staff about what has happened here, and we've reassured them that we won't tolerate this," Sheikh said. "Our staff are extremely disappointed."
Semenchuck is scheduled to make his first court appearance in Regina on April 22.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 13, 2025.