Sex-offender supporter to return to duty at HQ
Major-general put on paid leave after letter of support for sex offender became public
A general who wrote a letter in support of a sex offender will soon be returning to a top position at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa.
Maj.-Gen. Peter Dawe has been on paid leave since early May after it became public that in 2017 he wrote a positive character reference to try to influence the sentencing of an officer convicted of sexual assault. That officer had sexually and physically assaulted the wife of a fellow soldier.
The decision to give Dawe leave, made by acting Chief of the Defence Staff Lt.-Gen. Wayne Eyre, has been criticized by some in the military as rewarding a senior officer with a paid vacation despite his questionable conduct. Dawe's leave has cost taxpayers a little more than $40,000 so far.
But Dawe will soon be heading back to work.
“A deliberate approach is being taken to determine the way ahead for Maj.- Gen. Dawe,” National Defence spokesperson Jessica Lamirande said. “Future employment will be announced in due course.”
Lamirande said she couldn't provide more details on the timing of Dawe's return.
The details about what Dawe had done in 2017 only emerged publicly after a CBC report on April 28. Kevin Schamuhn, a retired major with Canada's special forces, told the news organization he felt betrayed after senior military leaders, including Dawe, gave positive character references to a soldier found guilty of sexually assaulting Schamuhn's wife while offering no support to his family.
The CBC report noted that on May 2, 2017, a judge found the soldier guilty on six criminal counts, including unlawfully entering the Schamuhns' home and sexually assaulting Schamuhn's wife, Annalise,
a retired logistics officer, on two occasions. The soldier was also found guilty of physically assaulting Schamuhn twice.
Dawe acknowledged to Schamuhn that he wanted to influence the sentence the soldier would receive and felt the sex offender was a “good guy” who deserved a break, the CBC reported. A judge cited the supportive letters from Dawe and the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry regiment in his sentencing decision. The soldier was sentenced to three years of probation instead of jail time.
But the soldier that Dawe and the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry regiment vouched for was later convicted in another, unrelated sexual assault and sentenced to three years in jail.
Eyre's initial reaction to the CBC report was to issue a statement of strong support for Dawe, saying he had full confidence in the major general. Eyre pointed out that Dawe, then in command of special forces, had accepted responsibility for his actions and had learned from his mistake.
When that didn't quell growing anger in the military community about Dawe's actions, Eyre released another statement, again supporting the general, but also noting Dawe would go to his new job as director general international security policy (DGIS Pol) sooner than scheduled.
Deputy minister of national defence Jody Thomas noted her support for Dawe in the same statement.
But that only fuelled anger among Canadian Forces personnel, who viewed the lack of any punishment as further evidence of a double standard between the treatment of senior officers and lower ranks.
As a result, Eyre issued an apology acknowledging that Dawe's actions were “causing division and anger within the CAF.”
On May 2, it was announced that Eyre decided Dawe would go on paid leave. Lamirande said the DGIS Pol position that Dawe was to have filled remained vacant. One of the deputy director generals at National Defence was acting in the role, she added.
Over the last several months, the Canadian Forces leadership has faced serious allegations of sexual misconduct. Chief of the Defence Staff Adm. Art McDonald stepped aside Feb. 24 from that job after being put under military police investigation. He was replaced by Eyre on a temporary basis.
In February, military police began an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct involving former chief of the defence staff Gen. Jon Vance. Last week, Vance was charged with obstruction of justice. Police are also looking into allegations of sexual assault against Vice Adm. Haydn Edmundson.
Parliamentary committees looking into sexual misconduct in the Canadian Forces have heard about a military system that protects senior officers and provides little support for victims.
Dawe said he never condoned the serious offences for which the soldier was convicted in civilian court. His supportive letter was to highlight that soldier's military accomplishments and his struggles, Dawe added in a statement.