CK police officer challenges co-worker sexual assault allegation

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By Millar Hill Sep 23, 2021 5:02 AM

A suspended Chatham-Kent police officer who pleaded guilty to seven counts of misconduct challenges an allegation of sexual assault by another police officer.

Constable Andrew Jaconelli pleaded not guilty to two counts of misconduct during Wednesday’s virtual disciplinary hearing at Chatham-Kent Police Headquarters.

The other two counts of misconduct stem from allegations that Jaconelli sexually assaulted a colleague at her home on August 27, 2018.

A two-hour video recording of the complainant’s statement about the alleged sexual assault was shown Thursday during the second day of Jaconelli’s disciplinary hearing.

In the video, the complainant recounts how Jaconelli came to her home drunk on the night of the alleged assault. The complainant said she tried to refuse his advances, but an alleged sexual advance still took place.

The complainant also said in the video that she was sexually assaulted when she was younger and described her feelings in the same way as when she was younger.

During the video, the complainant revealed that she had struggled with an opioid addiction and said that because of it she felt like an outcast at work. She said it made her hesitate to report the incident.

Earlier in the video recording, the complainant said that she and Jaconelli suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. She said they worked well together and that she enjoyed taking calls with Jaconelli.

Later in the hearing, Sergeant Kate McArthur, one of the Complainant’s supervisors, testified that Jaconelli played on the Complainant’s vulnerability.

Sergeant Kate McArthur and Constable Jodie Foster, the officer to whom the complainant’s tape was turned over, both testified that they believed the complainant was telling the truth about what had happened.

McArthur said the Complainant had nothing to gain and everything to lose.

Jaconelli’s disciplinary hearing will continue on Thursday.

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