Bill Kaye -- Image courtesy of Charlotte Dumoulin/Radio-Canada

By LNN Staff with files from CBC reporter Meghan Grant

LPS aware of sexual assault allegations against former Inspector

Feb 17, 2021 | 1:21 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB- The Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) has responded to local media, regarding a breaking article by CBC reporter, Meghan Grant, which states former Lethbridge Police Inspector Bill Kaye, is facing sexual assault allegations.

Inspector Kaye, a 35-year veteran of the local force retired from LPS in 2014 and became the program coordinator of the Domestic Violence Team (DVAT) in Lethbridge.

According to an article published by the CBC, a DVAT client has alleged she felt forced into a sexual relationship with Kaye.

As soon as the allegations were revealed, Kaye resigned from his position.

A statement issued to local media Wednesday (Feb 17), is as follows, and points out several inaccuracies in the CBC article:

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“The Lethbridge Police Service is aware of sexual assault allegations against a former employee and has been made aware that a formal complaint has been filed with Coaldale RCMP.

The alleged incidents are reported to have occurred long after the staff member retired from the Police Service in 2014. Although the incidents are alleged to have occurred within the City of Lethbridge, Coaldale RCMP were requested, and have agreed, to continue with the investigation to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest between the LPS and its former employee.

As the investigation is ongoing, Lethbridge Police will provide no further comment at this time.”

LPS notes “the alleged incidents are reported to have occurred long after the staff member retired from the Police Service in 2014.”

RCMP is investigating the allegations against Kaye, which alleges he initiated an unwelcome sexual relationship with a woman, beginning in 2018, while she was his DVAT in Lethbridge.

LPS states they never “insisted” on investigating the sexual complaint as stated in the article.

“Contrary to what has been reported, once LPS was advised a formal complaint was made to the RCMP Lethbridge Police took the position the RCMP should maintain carriage of the investigation to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest,” LPS says.

In the article, CBC said that Inspector Jason Walper was a designated investigator, but LPS corrected them saying Walper is in charge of the LPS Criminal Investigation Division, and as such does not actively conduct any specific investigations.

The CBC article also states that Kaye is a member of Coaldale Town Council, which is not factual.

It is noted that the accusations against Kaye have not been proven and he has not been charged.