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By Josh Hall
internal investigation ongoing

Alberta Sheriffs Peace Officer cleared of legal wrongdoing in intimate images case

Sep 3, 2026 | 1:23 PM

Alberta’s Police Review Commission and ASIRT have completed their investigation into a peace officer with the Alberta Sheriffs.

On June 30 of this year, they entered into an investigation involving the officer, who was alleged to have potentially committed a criminal offence by possessing a certain type of intimate images on his phone.

It was in April 2026 when a family member found images on the officer’s phone depicting adult women, including his coworkers. They appeared to be AI-generated from non-intimate images he found on social media.

Their existence was brought to the attention of Alberta Sheriffs, and in April, the officer admitted to his manager that he had created the images using an AI app. He also said he had not distributed them.

As the report explains, Section 162.1 of the Criminal Code of Canada was amended this summer.

Before being changed, which is when the photos were created, it stated that everyone who publishes, distributes, transmits, sells, makes available or advertises an intimate image of a person knowing that the person depicted did not give their consent, is guilty of an indictable offence.

After June 18, when Bill C-16 was given royal assent, the definition of an intimate image now includes visual representations that are made by means of artificial intelligence software.

It also now includes wording referring to the “threat to publish.”

Per the report:

“When the ASIRT investigation began on June 30, the old provisions applied. The discovery of the images and subsequent disclosure about the images by the SO [officer] occurred prior to that. The SO’s conduct did not meet the elements of the offence as it was defined at that time because the images were AI-generated. Additionally, there is not evidence that he published, distributed, transmitted, sold, made available, or advertised the images.”

“The [officer’s] conduct is serious. It will have lasting impacts on his female coworkers and their ability to feel safe in the workplace,” writes Matthew Block, executive director, to conclude the report.

“At the same time, it was not a criminal offence. As ASIRT’s mandate covers only criminal matters, the [officer’s] conduct is best addressed by the Alberta Sheriffs under their code of conduct.”

Pattison Media News Alberta requested a comment from Alberta Sheriffs.

“The Alberta Sheriffs acknowledge the decision by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT). The employee has been removed from active duty while the Alberta Sheriffs Branch conducts an internal investigation into this matter. As that investigation is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time,” they say in a statement. 

“The Alberta Sheriffs Branch is committed to upholding the values of accountability, integrity and respect. Those values are the foundation of the professional standards and workplace conduct expected throughout the organization.”

They did not divulge how long he’s been with the force, nor where he is specifically stationed.

The full report can be read here.

by Josh Hall