A senior non-commissioned officer at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt has been removed from a leadership role for making “inappropriate comments” about a junior sailor’s appearance at a social event in May.
Chief Petty Officer First Class Timothy Blonde has been relieved of his appointment as formation chief petty officer of Maritime Forces Pacific, Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee said in a statement.
Topshee said that he no longer had confidence in Blonde’s ability to carry out his leadership duties, maintain discipline and ensure the highest standards of ethics and values of the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Armed Forces.
“The Royal Canadian Navy has been clear that any form of misconduct within its ranks is unacceptable,” Topshee said. “It harms our people, jeopardizes our operational effectiveness, and is inconsistent with our values and ethics. Accordingly, the RCN expects all of its members to exercise institutionally appropriate judgment at all times, especially when in senior leadership or command roles.”
An investigation found evidence that Blonde made inappropriate comments at a social event on May 6. The statement did not reveal what Blonde said, or the gender of the junior sailor. Blonde will continue to serve in the navy, but will not occupy a position of senior leadership or influence. His new duties were not mentioned in the statement.
Topshee said while the investigation did not reveal evidence to support laying charges under the Code of Service Discipline or the Criminal Code of Canada, “the evidence clearly showed that his conduct was unacceptable, and incompatible with his duties and responsibilities.”
The formation chief petty officer is the most senior non-commissioned member appointment within Maritime Forces Pacific, whose primary role is to represent the interests and perspectives of non-commissioned members. Therefore, despite the name of the rank, chief petty officers are not officers.
Working alongside a network of other chief petty officers, the formation chief petty officer is required to maintain discipline and promote Canadian Armed Forces ethics and values at all times, according to the statement.
A formation chief petty officer cannot effectively carry out his or her duties without the trust of both leadership and the sailors, it said.
“RCN sailors are amongst the very best in the world and the vast majority of them conduct themselves in a responsible and highly professional manner,” said Topshee.
“The RCN leadership owes it to these professionals to enforce our policies, ethics, and values at all levels, and take swift action when institutional leaders violate the trust placed in them by Canadians, and by sailors of all ranks.”
