Roxanne Greene made a journey from Labrador to attend a rare Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Public Complaints Commission (RNCPCC) hearing in St. John’s. Her former husband, retired Sgt. Nick Rumbolt, opted not to participate. Greene emotionally testified that Rumbolt allegedly broke into her residence in 2009 and sexually assaulted her after a period of intense harassment, often while he was on duty and in uniform.
During the hearing, RNCPCC lawyer James Strickland inquired if Greene’s fear of her ex-husband had ever diminished, to which she responded that it had not and had left a lasting impact on her. The proceedings began with the revelation that Rumbolt had retired from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and would not be involved. Represented by lawyer John Drover, Rumbolt’s presence was merely to ensure procedural compliance.
Allegations against Rumbolt include conduct violations such as being discourteous to the public, exploiting his position for personal gain, and failing to adhere to proper procedures, spanning from 2009 to 2019. Despite maintaining that the incidents were part of a longstanding marital dispute and refusing to participate, Rumbolt’s lawyer emphasized that the commission lacked jurisdiction over the retired officer.
Greene recounted an incident in 2009 where Rumbolt pulled her over after she picked up food, leading her to file a complaint at the RNC station in Labrador City, which was initially dismissed. Subsequent attempts to report the assault were met with reluctance from officers. Greene’s husband also testified about a later encounter with Rumbolt during a traffic stop, where they felt threatened and intimidated.
Following a criminal investigation initiated by the RCMP a decade after the alleged assault, no charges were laid. In 2022, Greene amended her complaint to include the sexual assault details. Expressing the need for systemic changes to prevent similar incidents, Greene urged for accountability and transparency within law enforcement agencies. The hearing was adjourned for further submissions scheduled for December 7.
