Nova Scotia Murder Exposes Police Failures in Gender-Based Violence Case
A 2017 murder in Nova Scotia has raised fresh concerns about police failures in handling gender-based violence. Susan Butlin was killed by her neighbour, Ernie Ross (Junior) Duggan, just days after officers dismissed her complaints against him. Critics now argue that systemic failures by the RCMP contributed to her death. Susan Butlin reported Duggan to police multiple times before her murder on September 17, 2017. Officers closed her case three days earlier, claiming there were no grounds for charges. The decision left her without protection.
The RCMP’s handling of Butlin’s case has since faced heavy scrutiny. Myrna Dawson, director of the Canadian Femicide Observatory, stated there was no real investigation into her complaints. Kristina Fifield, a trauma therapist, compared the response to the RCMP’s failure to act on warnings about Gabriel Wortman, the perpetrator of the 2020 Nova Scotia mass shooting.
Nova Scotia RCMP assistant commissioner Dan Morrow admitted the investigation into Butlin’s case was inadequate. Despite this, Cpl. Patrick Crooks—the lead officer on the case—was later promoted and remains on active duty. The force has since claimed improvements in sexual assault training and investigations, according to spokesperson Cindy Bayers.
Claudia Chender, leader of the Opposition NDP, has called for stronger action. She demanded better accountability from the RCMP and more efforts to combat gender-based violence. The case highlights ongoing concerns about how police handle reports of violence against women. Butlin’s death came after repeated warnings were ignored, and critics say little has changed since. The RCMP’s internal reforms have yet to address the broader issue of systemic failures in protecting vulnerable individuals.
