'Ad hoc' monitoring failed to protect air force officer who took his own life: inquiry report

WARNING: This story contains distressing details about suicide. It also includes details of allegations of sexual assault which may be triggering.

A Canadian air force officer who took his own life after being charged with sexual assault was deemed by a military medical officer and a social worker to present a "moderate" suicide risk — but a military investigation has found there was little formal follow-up by his superiors.

A board of inquiry into the death of Maj. Cristian Hiestand said that the career pilot was placed on medical employment limitations shorty after being accused of two counts of sexual assault and was "restricted from possessing a personal weapon."

He was found dead in his home on Jan. 18, 2022.

One of the conditions of his release from custody the previous month was that he have no contact with several individuals at Canadian Forces Base Moose Jaw, Sask., where he was a pilot instructor.

According to court records, Hiestand was charged days after he'd ended a tumultuous, short-term relationship with a civilian woman.

The charges against him were laid by military police in provincial court in Saskatchewan less than a week after he broke off the relationship and within five days of authorities receiving a complaint from the civilian woman in question.

As a consequence of his release conditions, Hiestand was ordered to work from home.

"Procedures and responsibilities regarding the supervision of Maj. Hiestand were devised on an ad-hoc basis," said the inquiry report, a copy of which was obtained by CBC News.

"There was no established standard operating procedure to supervise members who are working from home as a result of arrest and release conditions."

The investigation concluded that the arrangement, "due to his release conditions, increased his feelings of isolation and amplified feelings of anxiety, stress and hopelessness," given that much of his self-worth was closely tied to his status as an RCAF officer.

The support he did receive came from colleagues on the "basis of personal relationships," said the inquiry report. His friends told the inquiry that Hiestand would check in with them but "no formal procedure was adopted," said the report.

Hiestand dropped out of sight in the days before his death.

"Once Maj. Hiestand became unreachable, both his friends and the [chain of command] were unsure of what actions to take due to the uncertainty and confusion about the proper approach without invading Maj. Hiestand's personal space," said the report, dated July 29, 2022.