Robert Eric Semenchuck, 53, a former officer with the Regina Police Service in Saskatchewan, pleaded guilty to breach of trust and unauthorized use of a computer at a court hearing on 21/11.

Local media reported that the number of women involved in the case could be as high as 30.

Robert Eric Semenchuck leaving court on 21/11. *The Globe and Mail*.

According to victims, officer Robert used multiple aliases, sending messages claiming to be an entrepreneur or project manager. Conversations then evolved into persistent messaging over long periods, sometimes years.

One woman recounted receiving a strange message while she was in a domestic violence shelter. She described the message as a "lifeline" during a difficult time. They continued exchanging messages for four years before she began questioning him in 2023. "I wondered if I truly knew this guy," she said.

She ran a photo he sent her through facial recognition software, which returned images of Robert in a police uniform. "I cannot describe the feeling; everything was rushing through my head at that moment," she stated. "One of the first things that hit me was fear. Fear of this person, fear of his power, and what he could do." The woman then contacted police, leading to a two-year internal investigation.

Another woman reported receiving messages from a man calling himself "Steve," with their conversations lasting over one year. She said they sometimes felt intimate, but Steve grew controlling and demanding. "He was sexually obsessive," she said, adding that he constantly pressured her to send intimate photos. She tried to understand why she was targeted and how he knew who she was.

In many cases, however, Robert Eric Semenchuck did not conceal his identity, contacting victims as a police officer assisting with domestic violence recovery, then sending late-night messages for months.

The victims he targeted consistently were vulnerable women in need of help, often traumatized. With access to their profiles in the database, he exploited this information to gain trust and manipulate them.

In court on 21/11, Robert Eric Semenchuck read his guilty plea and said nothing further during the brief hearing. Several women were present to hear the plea.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on 23/1/2025.

Following the discovery of Robert's conduct, the Regina provincial police stated they implemented new policies to prevent similar incidents. These include control procedures, additional training to emphasize the unacceptability of such behavior, and notifications reminding anyone accessing the database that it is solely for investigative purposes.

Hai Thu (Based on CBC, People, NYPost)