Gleichen RCMP constable charged with assault causing bodily harm

An RCMP constable has been charged with assault causing bodily harm following an investigation into an incident at the Gleichen RCMP detachment on the night of Oct. 30, 2025, in which a woman was allegedly subjected to excessive force while being placed in cells.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team arrested Const. Marie-Helene Dupere on Oct. 22, 2026, and charged her with assault causing bodily harm, the Government of Alberta said in a news release on Friday on behalf of the Police Review Commission.

Police had arrested the woman for mischief earlier that evening. ASIRT investigated an allegation of excessive force arising from how the woman was handled when she was put in cells.

The agency said the evidence gathered during its investigation provided reasonable grounds to believe an offence had been committed. ASIRT executive director Matthew Block made the decision to charge Dupere following a review of the investigation and advice from the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service that a charge be laid.

Dupere was released on an undertaking after her arrest. She is scheduled to appear before the Alberta Court of Justice at Siksika Nation on Nov. 26, 2026.

The release said questions about Dupere's duty status and other employment-related matters should be directed to the RCMP. ASIRT said it would release no further information now that the matter is before the courts.

ASIRT is part of the Police Review Commission, an independent civilian-led agency that investigates potential criminal offences involving police across Alberta, including cases where an officer's actions may have resulted in serious injury or death.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.