So…what happens when the person you call for help turns out to be the one you need protecting from?
That’s the cruel twist at the heart of this latest gut-punch out of Edmonton.
Constable Hunter Robinz, a 39-year-old Edmonton police officer and former soldier, has just been sentenced to six months in jail for using his badge to prey on vulnerable women he encountered while on duty.
Yes, you read that right — six months.
Not years, not even one full year, just six months.
From 2017 to 2019, Robinz used his position of authority to approach at least eight women, all of whom had called the police for help. Some were victims of domestic abuse, others were dealing with mental health crises or dangerous situations.
Robinz slid into their lives under the guise of a helper, and then slid into their inboxes with unsolicited and often sexual messages. One woman said he returned to her house uninvited and kissed her while she repeatedly asked him to leave.
Another woman, who had recently been assaulted by a partner, was so entangled with Robinz that she couldn’t undergo a rape kit examination afterward.
The judge in the case, Justice Susan Bercov, didn’t sugarcoat it.
She called his behavior “predatory” and insisted a jail term was the only way to send a strong message about abuse of authority.
“A strong message must be sent,” she said, “that these types of abuses of authority will not be tolerated.”
Yet, the strong message came wrapped in a soft package: SIX MONTHS.
That’s less than some people serve for marijuana possession in the wrong state.
Robinz pleaded guilty to breach of trust, which let him skate past more severe charges like sexual assault. The Crown originally pushed for two to three years, while the defence, pointing to his PTSD from military service in Afghanistan and alcohol abuse, argued for house arrest. The judge acknowledged his mental health issues but ultimately decided they weren’t enough to keep him out of jail.
On social media, people are furious.
Comments range from “This is rapist behavior” to “He got off easy.”
One user pointed out the staggering fact that, according to Alberta’s police watchdog, only two other officers in the province have received jail time since 2008.
Another said, “If I did what he did, I’d get 10-20 years.”
Then there’s the larger question: How did this go unnoticed by his peers?
One victim’s mother asked it plainly: “How could anyone who worked with him not know what he was, when it became clear to us pretty quickly?”
Now, here’s where it all gets even weirder.
Despite all this, some folks are still debating whether Robinz truly meant harm or if he was just a traumatized man spiraling. His psychiatrist said his behavior began as “innocent flirting” that escalated, influenced by PTSD and a thrill-seeking personality triggered by his time in combat.
Okay, but here’s the thing: PTSD is not a free pass to exploit others.
From Robinz’s perspective, maybe he truly didn’t see his actions as harmful at the time. Maybe he thought he was forming connections. But from the outside looking in, from the average person’s perspective?
This is not complicated. It’s a betrayal. It cuts especially deep when the person doing the betraying is wearing a uniform and carrying a badge.
So, what do we take from this?
Policing absolutely needs better mental health screening and ongoing support.
Sentencing for officers who abuse their power should reflect the deeper harm they cause to society.
Transparency and accountability in police institutions aren’t optional anymore. They’re urgent.
Well, I write daily (mostly the weird stuff I find interesting). If you like this whole no-nonsense approach, feel free to bookmark and come back tomorrow, or continue reading other stories to make up your mind.
See ya, internet friend.
