‘Fell into his trap’: Women say Regina officer who pursued them was a con man

REGINA – A former Regina police sergeant who used the force’s database to find and date scores of vulnerable women while using assumed names told court Friday that he’s sorry.

“I just want to take this opportunity to apologize to everyone that was affected by my choices and my actions,” Robert Semenchuk said during his sentencing hearing.

“I am truly sorry.”

Semenchuk, a 22-year member of the force, pleaded guilty last year to breaching trust and using a computer for unauthorized purposes. 

A judge is to deliver a sentencing decision Feb. 6.

The 53-year-old sat expressionless in his sentencing hearing while women testified about how he abused his authority to form romantic relationships with them.

An agreed statement of facts says he used a police computer system over eight years to contact 33 women. He reached out using fake names while pretending he didn’t know who the women were.

The victims told court they fell for a con man.

“He said all the right things and my worries melted away,” said one woman, whose name is covered by a publication ban.

“I fell into his trap.”

She said Semenchuk told her that his name was Steve.

“I believed I was in an exclusive relationship. But I know now he was married and seeing other women while we were together,” she said.

“I never have or would I intend to engage in an intimate relationship with someone who was married, someone I knew to have multiple sexual partners.

“I thought I had found someone special … that maybe he was even the one. I feel so stupid now.”

Some women decided to go public with their names and their identities are not subject to publication bans.

Patricia Nichol said she doesn’t know how her phone number ended up on the police database. She said she now has a hard time trusting people or herself. 

“What made you decide that I would be one of the conquests? What made you think that this was OK? And what was your endgame?” she said.

She told Semenchuk that if the ruse was just about sex, “you could have walked into any bar with your wedding ring on, your uniform, using your real name and you could have gone home with anybody.”

Kerry Benjoe told the hearing that Semenchuk used the name Jay, and they developed a friendship where she could depend on him.

Benjoe had lost her leg due to an old injury caused by an abuser, she said, and Jay would tell her she was beautiful. 

When Benjoe learned who he really was, she said her world came crashing down.

“I didn’t know Robert Semenchuk and what he was actually capable of doing. How could I defend myself from this trained police officer?” she said. 

“You brought shame to the badge you swore to hold and honour. I once held you in very high regard and now all I have for you is pity.” 

Colleen Lark said she’s had sleepless nights and no longer trusts the policing system.

“Let the outcome he faces be the one he creates: cold, crushing, merciless,” Lark said. “What is the system going to do to earn back the trust that is destroyed?”

Police Chief Lorilee Davies told court the force is appalled by what Semenchuk did and that it has lots of work ahead to regain trust.

“His actions have impaired the Regina Police Service’s ability to carry out our vision of working together to keep Regina safe and our values of respectful, professional service,” Davies said. 

“Bob, as a leader of this organization, I must convey that you have embarrassed me, all of your former co-workers and the future members of Regina Police Service.”

The Crown and defence jointly recommended a two-year conditional sentence be served in the community, followed by three years of probation.

Defence lawyer Nick Brown said Semenchuk has struggled with mental health issues, which likely contributed to his actions. Semenchuk is now seeing a psychiatrist, Brown added.

He said Semenchuk, who grew up in Regina and has two children, is also working for an insulation company.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 23, 2026.