The Alberta Crown Prosecution Service has dropped charges against two Edmonton-area RCMP members who were accused of breach of trust in connection with an alleged inappropriate relationship, marking the end of a high-profile case that drew scrutiny to police conduct standards.
Daniel Mayowski, now a civilian, and Sgt. Sheldon Robb, who was working in K Division's traffic services unit, were originally charged last summer. However, prosecutors determined the available evidence no longer supported moving forward with the case.
"Crown prosecutors have an obligation to assess their cases on a continual basis to ensure all aspects of the evidence are carefully considered and meet the standard for prosecution," Michelle Davio, a spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service, said in a statement Thursday.
"For a matter to proceed, there must be a reasonable likelihood of a conviction and the matter must be in the public interest. In each of these files, key evidence changed."
The charge against Mayowski was officially stayed on June 26, while prosecutors withdrew charges against Robb on April 23. The timing of the evidence changes was not disclosed in the Crown's statement.
While the criminal proceedings have concluded, the fallout for Robb continues. An RCMP spokesperson confirmed that the sergeant remains suspended with pay pending a separate code of conduct investigation—a disciplinary process that operates independently from the criminal justice system.
The case highlights the complexities of prosecuting breach of trust allegations involving police officers, where evidence standards and public interest considerations can shift as investigations evolve.
This story is based on reporting from the Edmonton Journal.