’33 women deserve more’: Former police officer will not go to prison for using internal database to pursue victims

Former Regina police sergeant Robert Semenchuk was sentenced to a community term after accessing private data of dozens of women. Donovan Maess reports.

A former Regina Police officer who used an internal database to pursue women will not spend time behind bars after receiving a two-year conditional sentence instead.

Robert Semenchuck, a former sergeant and 22-year member of the service, pleaded guilty in November 2025 to one count of breach of trust and unauthorized use of a computer.

He received his sentence on Friday, following a joint sentencing submission on Jan. 23 which sought for Semenchuck to spend six months on house arrest and the remainder of his conditional sentence to be served in the community.

After the completion of his sentence, he will spend another three years on probation.

“The judge is not bound by joint statutory submissions of counsel,” Judge Marylynne Beaton said as part of her decision. “It is always the duty of a sentencing judge to impose a proportionate and fit sentence. That said, rejecting a joint submission is not a step a sentencing judge should take lightly.”

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“I cannot say the joint submission is contrary to the public interest. Keeping in mind, Mr. Semenchuck’s conduct, effect on the victims and the fundamental purpose and principles of sentencing,” she added.

According to an agreed statement of facts, there were 33 victims total. “In excess of 10″ women Semenchuck engaged in intimate relationships between June 2011 and April 2023.

“An alarming number of females were searched,” Judge Beaton said. “His conduct with that information was illegal and immoral.”

Several conditions were also set during Friday’s sentencing, including but not limited to:

• Living at an approved residence, with the first six months inside the approved residence 24 hours a day, unless approved by a probation officer
• Adhering to curfew
• Electronic GPS monitoring for six months
• Non-contact order with any victims
• Cannot visit school, home, or workplace of victims
• Banned from possessing a phone or laptop which has access to the internet
• Prohibited from owning or possessing guns or ammunition
• Court ordered counselling
• Imposed surcharge of $400

“We thank the court for taking the time to consider the joint submission,” Crown prosecutor Chris Browne responded. “We put a submission before the court that we felt was appropriate in the circumstances.”

“This case involved a serious breach of trust,” said Semenchuck’s defense Lawyer Nick Brown. “At the same time, the judge needs to consider the sentencing principles in Canada, especially considering a joint submission.”

Victims react

When Kerry Benjoe first approached police three years ago to report her private information had been accessed by an officer, she did not know the extent of those impacted.

“I’ve had a long time to sit with this,” she told reporters after hearing the decision. “I’ve resolved it within myself. Whatever came out of today would be it. And the story’s not over.”

Benjoe is one of 33 women which Semenchuck accessed their private information over the course of 12 years while an active member of the Regina Police Service (RPS).

Semenchuck had also used an alias at times, lying about his name and occupation to some of the victims. Investigators say he developed and maintained some of the relationships while on duty as a police officer – including using RPS fleet vehicles and a work-issued cell phone.

In some cases, victims were experiencing difficulties in their own lives, some of which Semenchuck would have been able to determine from his improper use of RPS’ system.

“I came forward and I’m so grateful 32 other women stood behind me,” said Benjoe. “I’m glad we’re here. I’m glad there’s some semblance of justice. He is exposed, he is no longer in a position of power and I’m sure I did my duty.”

“Today for me was just closure to a very long journey and my expectations were met,” she said about Semenchuck’s sentence.

However, for Bridgette Cyr, the penalty is not harsh enough.

“I’m very disappointed actually with what happened today,” she said. “I was expecting more; 33 women deserve more. We were victimized, we were stalked, we were taken advantage of.”

“We have ongoing issues with our self-esteem and [I felt], ‘How stupid was I to let this happen to me?’ He’s going to sit in his house and he doesn’t have to go to jail,” Cyr added.

Both the Crown and defense were asked if they felt the sentence may have been stiffer, including requesting jail time.

“Victims are entitled to their opinions,” said Browne. “I don’t know that it’s a situation of choosing not to pursue it. The Crown pursued the sentence we felt was appropriate through the joint submission. We have an obligation to take all of the factors of sentencing into account when making our submissions to the court.”

“This is a jail sentence,” claimed Brown. “Albeit Mr. Semenchuck will be serving it in the community and a significant period of probation after the fact. I understand there may be certain victims seeking a greater penalty but it’s important in these cases the sentences are based on the law.”

While Brown addressed the media, one victim listened on from behind the scrum.

“None of what [the Crown and defense] asked for was what we asked for as victims,” she called out.

Regina Police enacting new policies

Benjoe and Cyr called for sweeping change within RPS as a result of their case.

“I’d like to see systematic change,” said Benjoe. “These are men in positions to be tempted to use the resources they have. The honour system has to be eliminated. There must be checks and balances for everyone here working in this position so people like me, people like Bridgette, people who have gone to the police for support are no longer revictimized.”

“This was a huge case and there really wasn’t anything to compare it to,” added Cyr. “There can’t be any more gray area because this is not okay for the victims. I understand police need to have access to information. But there needs to be somebody checking in randomly on people.”

Regina Police Chief Lorilee Davies says the service has already begun the process of implementing such balances.

“We know we have much work to do to regain your trust, if ever, and I can assure you we are deeply committed to this work,” she told reporters Friday. “When someone breaches our privacy policies, disregards their oath of office, bypasses all of our training and security measures we have in place in such an egregious manner, it calls into question the ethics and accountability of all of our members.”

“I’m committed to doing better and looking at any possibility of what that might look like - whether it’s systems, training. But I think deterrence in cases going forward will be a big part of it,” Chief Davies added.

Following a second incident where an RPS member improperly accessed private information, the office of the information and privacy commissioner made nine recommendations to the force to mitigate the chance similar cases occur in the future and to ensure it may identify incidents more accurately if they do.

They include:

• RPS inform all remaining affected individuals of their right to privacy documents un LAFOIP legislation to request a summary of the dates and times officers searched their personal information.
• Permanently revoke offending officers’ access to the internal database.
• Should RPS not revoke access, it should conduct focused and targeted audits on the police officer’s access to the database monthly for an indefinite period.
• Install features into the database requiring members to provide reasoning for accessing it.
• Conduct random audits of the queries by members from random samples of a pool of employees.
• Ensure RPS’ access and privacy unit is sufficiently resourced to perform the audits.
• Implement a protocol for conducting audits of an employee’s access to personal information.
• Commit to a policy of zero tolerance for unauthorized breaches of personal information.
• Attorney General review

Davies says eight of the nine have already been or are in the process of being enacted.

“I respectfully disagree with [permanently revoking access] on the basis that permanent revocation of access to [the database] would effectively prevent an employee from performing their core duties,” she said. “And that would amount to dismissal.”

Moving on

Now having the matter concluded, victims are relieved to finally begin the process of moving on.

“I am satisfied it’s over,” said Benjoe. “I have had some time to think and sit with it. I was determined this man would not leave me in fear. When I see him now, when he walks in, he’s just a small little man. He no longer has that power, he no longer has that control.”

Cyr says she moved away from Regina as a result of Semenchuck’s actions and she does not see herself moving back, ever.

“I’m scared in Regina,” she said. “I’m scared for my children because I don’t know the good [officers] from the bad ones.”

Benjoe went on to say change may also be needed at higher levels, enforcing harsher penalties against those who commit crimes against women.

“[Women] are constantly fighting for some sort of justice, especially when it’s crimes against women,” she said. “We’re not treated the same way as property. {Semenchuck] probably would have got a stiffer sentence if he committed fraud and stole property, some criminal activity.”

“But because it was crimes against women, crimes against women’s bodies, there was no there was no penalty for that,” Benjoe added.

-With files from Caitlin Brezinski and Connor Chan

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