A former Canadian police sergeant has admitted to misusing his position and accessing confidential law enforcement databases to pursue intimate relationships with approximately thirty women, including domestic violence survivors.
The Guilty Plea and Charges
Robert Eric Semenchuck, a 53-year-old veteran of the Regina Police Service in Saskatchewan with twenty-two years of service, entered his guilty plea on Friday, November 21. He faced one count of breach of trust and one count of unauthorized use of a computer.
The police service initially brought charges against Semenchuck in March, stating the former sergeant had exploited his access to protected information to locate, contact, and cultivate relationships with women. Alarmingly, some of these women were completely unaware they were communicating with a police officer.
Deceptive Tactics and Victim Accounts
According to investigations and victim testimonies, Semenchuck operated under aliases like "Jay Lewis" and "Steve Perkins". He would initiate contact via text message, presenting himself as a contractor or project manager.
These conversations often evolved into persistent messaging that lasted for extended periods, sometimes stretching over several years. One woman, identified only as "K", revealed her first contact with him occurred while she was residing in a women's shelter, recovering from domestic abuse.
She described the initial text as a "lifeline" during a profoundly low moment. Their text-based relationship continued for four years before she began to question his identity in 2023.
"I was like, 'Do I really know this guy?'" she told The Globe and Mail. Her suspicions led her to run a photo he had sent through facial-recognition software, which identified the man as Semenchuck in police uniform.
"I can't describe the feeling, everything that went through my head in that moment," she said. "One of the first things that hit me was fear. Fear of this person, his power and what he could do."
Her report to the police triggered an internal investigation that continued for two years.
Another victim, identified as "C", shared a similar story. She received a message from a man calling himself "Steve," which developed into a relationship lasting more than a year.
"I was 18 trying to find someone, and I didn't know how to go about it," she recalled, noting how "Steve" eventually became controlling and demanding. She described him as "s£x-crazed," alleging he consistently pressured her for explicit photos.
"How did he know who I was? Why did he choose me?" she questioned, echoing the violation felt by many of the women targeted.
Fallout and Institutional Response
Semenchuck, who had received policing awards throughout his two-decade career, was formally charged in March 2025. The then-Police Chief, Farooq Sheikh, announced that Semenchuck had resigned from the force effective April 21.
"We acknowledge that a police officer being charged can negatively impact trust and confidence, and I'm hoping that the community also recognizes our accountability and transparency here today," Sheikh stated at the time.
In response to the scandal, the Regina Police Service has implemented new policies designed to prevent similar incidents. These measures include an enhanced auditing process for database access, additional training for personnel, and clear on-screen reminders that the information is strictly for legitimate investigative purposes.
A judge has scheduled Semenchuck's sentencing for January 23. The court anticipates hearing as many as twenty victim impact statements during the proceeding, highlighting the extensive emotional damage caused by his actions.
