A well-known and decorated Alberta RCMP officer has been suspended following allegations of sexual misconducts involving his female co-workers.
Const. Pernell Cardinal of the Maskwacis RCMP detachment was being investigated for six counts of sexual misconduct. An RCMP spokesman confirms three of those counts were substantiated during an internal RCMP hearing last week.
The exact details of the incidents have not yet been released by RCMP.
Whether or not Pernell was suspended with or without pay is also unclear.
Cardinal has been in the news repeatedly, as an RCMP spokesperson for the Chelsea Yellowbird case.
Yellowbird, 23, was shot and killed outside a residence on Samson Cree Nation in September 2011.
In 2010, Cardinal was awarded a Canada Bravery Medal for saving a man from a burning house at Samson Cree Nation with his partner, Const. David Lee.
None of the Four Nations of Maskwacis returned Global News’ requests for comment.
Cardinal’s brother, Perry, is also a member of the Maskwacis RCMP.
One year ago, the RCMP was defending its workplace policies against a class action lawsuit from nearly 400 female RCMP officers and civilian employees.
The lawsuit alleges systemic harrassment, bullying and gender discrimination. A third of the women involved are still employed by the RCMP.
Cardinal has two weeks to appeal the decision.