RCMP officer promoted after harassment complaint tossed

Six weeks after a sexual harassment complaint was dismissed due to procedural errors, the RCMP officer at the centre of the issuewaspromoted.

Sgt. Tim Korman is currently stationed in Rosthern, Sask., but four years ago when hewas a corporal in the Buffalo Narrows detachment he was accused of sexually harassing an officer under his supervision.

An investigation determined the allegation was well-founded, but a discipline process related to the complaint was terminated because the Saskatchewan commander at the time, Darrell McFadyen, botched the paperwork.

'He was entitled to a promotion to sergeant, and that promotion has been provided to him.' Chief Superintendent Garry Jay, RCMP

The case was examined by an internal review panel, which dismissed the matter on March 18.

Chief Superintendent Garry Jay, the manager of human resources for the RCMP in Saskatchewan, told CBC News that the Mounties were obliged to promote Korman, as soon as he qualified for advancement. Jay told CBC News that Korman's promotionwas approvedsix weeks after the review panel dismissed the harassment complaint.

"The reason for preventing Mr. Korman Cpl. Korman, now Sgt. Korman from participating in a promotion process in the past was the outstanding discipline," Jay explained. "Where that discipline failed to come to fruition, he was entitled to a promotion to sergeant, and that promotion has been provided to him."

Jay said the problem with poor paperwork affecting a disciplinary process has happened before with the RCMP, but added the Mounties were changing procedures so that sort of problem does not happen again.