Retired cop denies telling abuse victim to 'back off'

CORNWALL PUBLIC INQUIRY

Cornwall Standard Freeholder

18 November 2008

A retired Ontario Provincial Police officer denied Monday that he ever told sexual abuse victim Albert Roy to "back off" on accusations he was making against his former probation officer.

"I definitely would not have said that," said Det. Const. William Zebruck, who was testifying at the Cornwall Public Inquiry.

In 1994, Zebruck headed up a joint investigation with the Cornwall Police Service into Roy's allegations he had been sexually abused by Nelson Barque.

Barque had become Roy's probation officer when Roy was 16, after he stole a car and took it on a joyride to Kingston.

During his investigation, Zebruck drove Roy and his wife to the town of St. Andrew's West, just north of Cornwall, where Barque lived.

Zebruck said Monday he needed to identify whether Roy's abuse allegations fell under the jurisdiction of the city police or the OPP.

When Roy took the stand in 2006, he testified that during their trip, Zebruck told him his allegations would have a "hard impact on (Barque's) family" and that Barque would likely kill himself -- statements Roy felt were designed to get him to "back off" on his charges against the probation officer.

Barque pleaded guilty in 1995 to sex-related crimes and received four months in jail. Three years later, he committed suicide.

Zebruck was adamant he never would have said such things to the Roys. Nor did Roy ever complain to his superiors about the car trip, Zebruck said -- another allegation Roy made during his testimony.

"I would have heard about it if there was (a complaint filed)," Zebruck said.

The inquiry is looking into how institutions like the OPP responded to allegations of historical sexual assault. Zebruck laid charges against Barque in December 1994. Afterwards, he terviewing colleagues of Barque and Ken Seguin, another probation officer who allegedly abused Roy.