Woman charged with accessing personal information at RNC

Annette Kennedy is the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary civilian employee who has been charged with three offences under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, The Telegram has learned.

The 49-year-old Paradise woman is scheduled to appear in provincial court in St. John’s June 19.

Commissioner Donovan Molloy announced Friday that a person has been charged, but neither he nor the RNC would release the name.

Kennedy is a dispatcher with the RNC, a civilian position. She has been suspended without pay until the matter is resolved.

It’s alleged that between September and October 2016, Kennedy accessed the private information of a man, who goes by two names, and a woman, both of St. John’s. The man has criminal matters that are scheduled to be heard in provincial court in St. Anthony in July.

The charge resulted from an investigation conducted after a complaint from a member of the public, police stated in a news release.

Molloy was informed by the RNC of the privacy breaches when they were discovered.

RNC chief Bill Janes said in a statement he couldn’t provide more details as the case is now before the courts.

“On Oct. 10, 2016, the RNC received a complaint from a member of the public regarding a civilian employee improperly accessing private information. Today, after an investigation by the Information and Privacy commissioner, three charges were laid under the Access to Information and Protection Act, 2015 against that employee,” Janes said.

“Employees with the RNC take an oath of confidentially and strict policies are in place to protect private information. Our employees are held to high standards around the protection of private information and regular audits are conducted to ensure adherence to these standards.

“I want to assure the public that the RNC takes any breach of privacy by one of our employees very seriously.”