Experts weigh in on investigation into handling of Sean Chu sex assault allegation
The head of a non-profit agency supporting victims of domestic violence and abuse says if the sex assault allegation made in 1997 against Calgary Coun. Sean Chu were investigated today, the outcome might be different.
"I think that we as a society and as a system didn’t recognize what sexual assault was," said Andrea Silverstone, CEO of Sagesse. "How to define sexual assaults, how serious of an incident sexual assaults is and the need to hold perpetrators accountable."
The embattled city councillor — who won his third term representing Ward 4 by a margin of 52 votes on Monday — maintains he thought the girl he had sexual contact with in August 1997 was at least 18 years old.
In a press conference Thursday, Chu didn't address whether as a beat cop on the job at the time, he should have checked her age before bringing her home.
“It is a licensed establishment where all persons are required to be 18 years of age,” said Chu.
The girl turned out to be 16 years old and went to police soon after, alleging Chu sexually assaulted her.
Information provided to CTV News indicates Chu met the girl at the Husky House, and not a bar, at the request of another police officer to give her a ride home.
Chu says he met the girl at the Kings Head Pub while doing a routine walkthrough with his partner, while on police duty.
Documents obtained by CTV News show that he admitted to caressing the girl’s leg while in a public restaurant. Following an internal Calgary police investigation, Chu was convicted of one count of discreditable conduct and reprimanded.
Chu said during the press conference that he left the pub to change into civilian clothes and returned, only to take the girl home.
Sean Chu as a member of the Calgary Police Service
At the time, he told an internal disciplinary hearing they engaged in what he called “consensual sexual foreplay” at his home, which is something he doesn’t deny now.
According to Canadian law, a 16 year old can’t consent to sex with a person in a position of authority over them, like a police officer.
Doug King, a justice studies professor at Mount Royal University, also says under consent law, no one can offload the responsibility of confirming age to someone else, like a bouncer at a bar.
“You can’t legally say it’s an 18-plus establishment, so therefore I assumed everyone in there was over the age of 18, so therefore I don’t have to have an active role in checking consent,” said King.
King says due to the girl’s young age, the case would’ve been handled differently today.
Calgary police Chief Mark Neufeld released a statement earlier this week stating that the allegation against Chu was taken seriously and followed the process that was in place at the time.
He also said since this incident occurred, the processes have evolved and if it were to happen today, the province would be notified and the police watchdog would conduct an independent investigation.
Silverstone says that despite the outcome of Chu’s case, it was a positive sign to see councillors and provincial politicians, including the premier, calling for him to resign.
“I think it sends a message that that is no longer the case that if you are a victim of sexual assault, you can speak out that help is available, that it will be taken seriously," she said.
"And that in today’s day and age, this is just not behaviour that is accepted by our leaders or by anybody."
Silverstone says she encourages victims to come forward, no matter how long ago their incident happened, to non-profits agencies like Sagesse as there are many people out there willing to help.
If you have been a victim of sexual assault or domestic violence here are some resources you can reach out to:
- Sagesse: Sagesse.org 403-234-7337
- Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse: calgarycasa.com 24-hour crisis line: 403-237-5888 or toll-free 1-877-237-5888
- The Distress Center: 24-hour crisis line: 403-266-4357
- Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services: aasas.ca 403-237-6905
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
BREAKING New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial
New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: jobs report
The number of vacant jobs in Canada increased in February, while monthly payroll employment decreased in food services, manufacturing, and retail trade, among other sectors.
First in Canada procedure performed at London, Ont. hospital
A London man has become the first person in Canada to receive a robotic assisted surgery on his spine. Dave Myeh suffered from debilitating, chronic back pain that led to sciatica in his right now and extreme pain in his lower back.
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.