Mayor-Elect Gondek commented on Sunday’s anti-Sean Chu rally, saying she’s “proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with survivors of sexual harassment and assault.”.Approximately 600 attended the rally, 400 in support of re-elected Ward 4 Councillor Chu stepping down amidst resurfaced accusations of sexual misconduct 24 years ago while he served as a Calgary police officer. Another 200 showed up in support of Chu..“It is frustrating to be denied the tools to do what is right,” said Gondek in a released statement..“I feel that we were first let down by a culture that ignored victims’ voices, and now by a legal structure that removes the levers of power from city council and the mayor’s office.”.Gondek encouraged those “struggling” to utilize resources available to the public including the Distress Center’s 24-hour crisis line at 403-266-4357 and Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse at 403-237-5888..“I am sorry to be in a situation where we are causing so much pain and trauma to surface, but we must act to protect those closest to us,” said Gondek.After serving two terms on Calgary’s City Council and within days of Chu being re-elected as Ward 4 councillor for a third term, information surfaced around an incident that happened 24 years ago while Chu served with the Calgary Police Service..According to documents obtained by the Western Standard, Chu’s accuser said he had sexually assaulted her while holding a gun to her head..However, Insp. Debbie Middleton-Hope, the presiding officer at the disciplinary hearing in 2003, said testimony from the then 16-year-old minor was not credible and not to be believed..“I find Const. Chu to be forthright in his description of the details and I find his evidence to be believed,” said Middleton-Hope, a now-retired, but well-respected Calgary policewoman, in transcripts provided to the Western Standard..“Under cross-examination (the woman) had difficulty in recalling pertinent details,” said Middleton-Hope..“I find her evidence not to be believed and I was not able to consider her evidence when deciding a sentence.”.Middleton-Hope also confirmed there was no evidence that would have indicated Chu was aware the woman was underage stating, “several witnesses said [the girl] appeared to be 19 to 21 years old.”.Although allegations of sexual misconduct were thoroughly investigated and dismissed over the investigation, Chu had a letter of reprimand added to his file for discreditable conduct for caressing the accuser’s leg while on duty and was ordered to undergo six months of ethics training..Chu won by 100 votes in the October 18 civic election and is set to be sworn in as Ward 4 councillor on Monday..Gondek said she will not participate in Monday’s swearing-in ceremony for Chu if he attends and has urged Chu to resign a number of times..Chu has offered to meet with Gondek in person to discuss the situation and has vowed not to resign..“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean any harm,” Chu told the Western Standard in an exclusive interview on Tuesday..“I have always told the truth. My reputation is important to me and now my family is hurting,” said Chu..Chu is now looking at his legal options and a possible defamation suit over some of what he called “false reporting.”.The mayor-elect and councillors will be sworn in at a ceremony at city hall Monday afternoon..Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard.,.mrisdon@westernstandardonline.com
Mayor-Elect Gondek commented on Sunday’s anti-Sean Chu rally, saying she’s “proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with survivors of sexual harassment and assault.”.Approximately 600 attended the rally, 400 in support of re-elected Ward 4 Councillor Chu stepping down amidst resurfaced accusations of sexual misconduct 24 years ago while he served as a Calgary police officer. Another 200 showed up in support of Chu..“It is frustrating to be denied the tools to do what is right,” said Gondek in a released statement..“I feel that we were first let down by a culture that ignored victims’ voices, and now by a legal structure that removes the levers of power from city council and the mayor’s office.”.Gondek encouraged those “struggling” to utilize resources available to the public including the Distress Center’s 24-hour crisis line at 403-266-4357 and Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse at 403-237-5888..“I am sorry to be in a situation where we are causing so much pain and trauma to surface, but we must act to protect those closest to us,” said Gondek.After serving two terms on Calgary’s City Council and within days of Chu being re-elected as Ward 4 councillor for a third term, information surfaced around an incident that happened 24 years ago while Chu served with the Calgary Police Service..According to documents obtained by the Western Standard, Chu’s accuser said he had sexually assaulted her while holding a gun to her head..However, Insp. Debbie Middleton-Hope, the presiding officer at the disciplinary hearing in 2003, said testimony from the then 16-year-old minor was not credible and not to be believed..“I find Const. Chu to be forthright in his description of the details and I find his evidence to be believed,” said Middleton-Hope, a now-retired, but well-respected Calgary policewoman, in transcripts provided to the Western Standard..“Under cross-examination (the woman) had difficulty in recalling pertinent details,” said Middleton-Hope..“I find her evidence not to be believed and I was not able to consider her evidence when deciding a sentence.”.Middleton-Hope also confirmed there was no evidence that would have indicated Chu was aware the woman was underage stating, “several witnesses said [the girl] appeared to be 19 to 21 years old.”.Although allegations of sexual misconduct were thoroughly investigated and dismissed over the investigation, Chu had a letter of reprimand added to his file for discreditable conduct for caressing the accuser’s leg while on duty and was ordered to undergo six months of ethics training..Chu won by 100 votes in the October 18 civic election and is set to be sworn in as Ward 4 councillor on Monday..Gondek said she will not participate in Monday’s swearing-in ceremony for Chu if he attends and has urged Chu to resign a number of times..Chu has offered to meet with Gondek in person to discuss the situation and has vowed not to resign..“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean any harm,” Chu told the Western Standard in an exclusive interview on Tuesday..“I have always told the truth. My reputation is important to me and now my family is hurting,” said Chu..Chu is now looking at his legal options and a possible defamation suit over some of what he called “false reporting.”.The mayor-elect and councillors will be sworn in at a ceremony at city hall Monday afternoon..Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard.,.mrisdon@westernstandardonline.com
