A first sexual violence investigative unit with the RCMP will open later this year in Shediac.
The office will be based at the Courage Centre, to help strengthen investigations, support survivors and improve safety in New Brunswick communities.
Additional offices will follow in 2026 in Oromocto and Tracadie. They will be managed in an office at the RCMP headquarters in Fredericton.
“The implementation of a sexual violence investigative unit in New Brunswick will have an immediate positive impact on front-line investigators and survivors of sexual violence,” said Assistant Commissioner Matco Sirotic, commanding officer of the RCMP in New Brunswick. “This specialized unit will allow us to focus on the most severe and complex cases, work more closely with partners like the Courage Centre, and build capacity across the province.”
The new unit will be staffed with RCMP officers trained in a trauma-informed approach to complex sexual violence investigations and sex trafficking.
A $2.8 million investment from the provincial government will help ensure police have the necessary resources and partnerships to prevent re-victimization, reduce trauma and improve safety for vulnerable populations.
“The RCMP sexual violence investigative unit is the result of the culmination of dedicated community and government service providers, all working to improve the experiences of sexual violence survivors,” said Kristal LeBlanc, CEO of the Courage Centre. “All too often, survivors are left with not only the trauma of the act, but the system-induced trauma caused by having to navigate complex systems to seek justice and safety. This unit will propel our efforts forward to work collaboratively to better serve survivors who deserve to feel safe, understood and believed.”
