WARNING: This article contains allegations of sexual abuse.
Roxanne Greene travelled from Labrador to be present at a rare Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Public Complaints Commission (RNCPCC) hearing on Monday in St. John's.
Her ex-husband, retired Sgt. Nick Rumbolt, declined to participate.
Greene gave emotional testimony throughout the day, alleging Rumbolt broke into her house one night in 2009 and violently raped her. She said the sexual assault followed a period of intense harassment, often while her ex-husband was on the clock and in uniform.
"You said you were afraid of him," RNCPCC lawyer James Strickland said. "Did that fear ever go away?"
The hearing got underway on Monday morning with news that Rumbolt had retired from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and would not be taking part.
Rumbolt was represented by lawyer John Drover, who was there only to ensure proper procedure was followed.
“Because Mr. Rumbolt is retired, while the commission retains jurisdiction over the complaint it has no jurisdiction over the officer," Drover said.
Rumbolt is facing a number of alleged breaches of RNC regulations, including conduct unbecoming of a police officer, failing to follow proper procedures, being discourteous to a member of the public and using his position as a police officer to gain advantage.
The timeframe for the alleged breaches spans 2009 to 2019.
“Mr. Rumbolt has always maintained this was a longstanding marital dispute and has declined to participate, and therefore I have no instructions," Drover told the hearing.
Greene testified she was on her way back from picking up food at a restaurant on April 4, 2009, when Rumbolt pulled her over. She said it was the first time she'd seen him since the alleged sexual assault. She said Rumbolt yelled at her and demanded to know what she was doing.
Fed up, Greene said she drove straight to the RNC station in Labrador City to file a complaint. She said Rumbolt followed her there, and said "You just f–king think about what you're doing."
Greene said she tried to speak to officers at the detachment, but nobody would take her complaint. She testified she went back two days later to meet with a sergeant.
“He put his fingers in his ears and went, ‘Nah-nah-nah-nah, I don’t want to hear this, do I?’" Greene testified.
