The head of Canada’s military justice system has revoked his appointment as a high-ranking military police officer who faced sanctions three years ago for making sexually explicit comments about three women at a Christmas policing event. Last week, Chief Brigadier General Gen. Simon Trinto has appointed Chief of Staff Jonathan Lacoste as the top military police chief in charge of the Army Police Force. His internal announcement of his March 29 appointment, a copy of which was received by The Fifth Estate, was circulated across the country. In it, Trinto said he was confident Lacoste “would be an excellent representative of the Military Police industry in this key position.” However, by Friday, Trinto had canceled his Lacoste appointment. In a statement to The Fifth Estate, the Canadian Armed Forces said Lacoste had been appointed as Chief of Staff of the Military Police Department through a “recent Internal Military Police Process” that will now be reviewed.

Decision to revoke the appointment

“Shortly after this appointment, it was found that the process had not fully taken into account all the relevant aspects of conduct and discipline required when selecting persons for this key appointment,” the statement said. “After discussions with the Deputy Chief of Defense Staff, Mr. [provost marshal] decided to cancel this appointment and then direct the review of this practice as a whole. “ A Canadian military spokesman said Lacoste was aware of the CBC report and would not comment. Trinto turned down an interview request. Fifth Estate has learned that Lacoste faced a military police investigation and military tribunal in 2019 for his conduct two years earlier when he ran a military police training school at Borden, Canada, northwest of Toronto. Lacoste attended a police Christmas dinner and dance at an off-base golf club in December 2017, when he was 43 years old and an officer, one degree below current. With many of his employees and wives at the event, Lacoste was visibly drunk and made sexual comments to those around him, according to the sentencing decision in his case.

The remarks are “disgusting,” the judge said

The CBC found the judge’s conviction in the military tribunal’s court database, which contained a description of what Lacoste agreed to happen. The decision was written in French, as were his comments, which CBC has translated into English. The judge, Cmdr. Martin Pelletier described his remarks as “sexual” and said his comments about a woman’s alleged sexual activities and sexual orientation were “sincerely disgusting”. In the fact-finding report, Lacoste agreed to comment on a junior sergeant wearing a low-cut dress. The document said Lacoste told a colleague: “Look at her with her tits coming out. We know her boyfriend is in Afghanistan. She just wants to make ends meet” or other remarks about it. Lacoste also made a vulgar comment about the perceived sexual orientation of a woman of a higher class. Chief Brigadier General-Gen. Simon Trudeau, left, awards Chief of Staff Jonathan Lacoste, right, a Sacrifice Medal on February 23, 2022. Trudeau appointed Lacoste to the top police role in the Canadian Armed Forces in late March, before withdrawing his offer shortly afterwards. (Halifax Military Police Unit / Facebook)
Later, he was in a car with a friend and told her, according to court documents, not to be “holy nitos”, a slang term that roughly translates to rudeness that is teasing. The decision also stated that she made rude comments about her husband, who did not attend the event. When the woman returned to her hotel room, “she was in shock and could not sleep” and called her husband to tell him what had happened, the document said. The next day, he reported Lacoste to the military police.

Stereotypes were promoted, the judge says

In his decision, Pelletier said Lacoste, as head of military police officer training, should have set the example at the official celebration. “On the contrary, he appeared obviously drunk in the eyes of the subordinates and the citizens and indulged in comments that undermined the dignity of the people and promoted stereotypes that obviously could not be tolerated in a disciplined military organization that deals with respect for all human beings.” “, Said Pelletier. In an objection agreement, Lacoste was convicted of drunkenness and fined $ 2,800, an offense and penalty that will not appear on his criminal record or prevent promotions. In the military court document, Lacoste said he deeply regretted his behavior and apologized to the victims.

“Summary of discipline”

Retired Colonel Michel Drapeau, a military law attorney, has long fought for military police reform. He called it a “top-level appointment” that “would surpass any other non-commissioned officer” serving as a military police officer. “It’s a good job, responsible for the entire military police,” he said. “What can I say? They do not learn.” In this role, Lacoste would have acted as an advisor to Trudeau, who is in charge of the military justice system. He would also oversee all military police discipline and operations. A commanding officer should be seen as “the epitome of discipline” and has a duty to ensure that their troops follow all the rules, Drapeau said. “It does not surprise me. They keep doing it. They perceive him as one of the good guys, they are happy with him and they promoted him,” he said. “Most other people would have their careers to reach a plateau.” Michel Drapeau is a retired colonel who practices military law. He has represented many current and former military members who have been sexually harassed at work. (Doug Husby / CBC)
Many members of the Canadian Armed Forces have stated that they have been sexually assaulted and harassed at work, including by senior officials. Thousands of current and former members have filed lawsuits for sexual harassment. A Fifth Estate investigation also found flaws in the way the military justice system handles sexual assault cases, such as A former military police officer revealed when non-police commanders intervened in criminal investigations. Last week, retired General Jonathan Vance pleaded guilty to obstructing justice in a military police investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct. The former head of the defense staff supported a program against sexual misconduct, known as Operation Honor, while in the lead. Jonathan Vance is pictured in 2016, when he was head of Canada’s defense staff. He is now retired. (Adrian Wyld / Canadian Press)
Lacoste’s role as police chief, while also being investigated for sexual harassment, is reminiscent of the Vance case, Drapeau said, as he continued to succeed in his career anyway. Drapeau said he believed the military leadership would be fully aware of Lacoste’s judicial record before appointing him, as it was in the public record. “Especially someone at the level and function, you would expect a stricter review,” he said. “He lags behind and then is rewarded despite his shortcomings.” While Lacoste was awaiting his military tribunal, he was “dismissed from police custody,” according to court documents, which Drapeau said may mean he was temporarily barred from acting as a police officer. However, during his suspension, Lacoste was fired from his job as head of the police academy. Months before his case was settled, he was promoted to acting chief of staff and relocated to the Canadian Winnipeg military base to oversee police operations there. CLOCKS The search of the fifth property, Broken price: Sexual misconduct in the military “The dice were rolled and this guy was considered a moving and a vibrator, someone who was destined to go to a higher degree,” Drapeau said. “And he obviously did not pay a very good, very effective price for his behavior.”

The judge sets an “excellent” career record

Lacoste is a veteran with a medal, having served as a soldier in the former Yugoslavia and later as a police officer in Afghanistan. He also won recognition for his volunteer work. Earlier this year, his brigadier general awarded him the Sacrifice Medal for recognizing a serious injury he suffered during his mission. Lacoste’s service was noted in his sentencing decision, as were his mental condition, post-traumatic stress disorder and excessive alcohol consumption, for which he said he was receiving treatment. The judge said that his “excellent” career suggests that “the actions he committed are probably an individual offense”. He was also instructed to read Operation Honor instructions, which Lacoste would be responsible for communicating and enforcing for his students and staff. The French expression is: “The more it changes, the more it is the same thing.” “Nothing has changed,” said Flag. “We do not have a Canadian Force leader who understands what is required and understands to live by the rules and understands that no one should be above the law, whether you are a warden or a general.” The Canadian Armed Forces have not announced who will replace Lacoste as military police chief.