Iqaluit police say take “precautions” but no vigilante action

The RCMP are warning again of the release into Iqaluit society of an inmate who, they say, "has a history of using extreme violence and poses high risk to reoffend."

Larry Kippomee, 28, from Pond Inlet, was released May 29 from the psychiatric treatment centre in the Kingston penitentiary in Ontario , after serving a three-year sentence for a number of charges, including the use of force, sexual assault, and forcible confinement.

Kippomee will be staying with a family member in Iqaluit.

RCMP Staff-Sgt. Harold Trupish of criminal operations, V Division, said Kippomee is to attend a hearing June 18, when the police want the court to order him bound by a number of conditions for a 12-month period.

These will include that Kippomee must:

• report to police every Wednesday and Friday;
• keep the peace;
• remain in Iqaluit, and continue living at the family member's residence;
• remain inside that residence from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. each night;
• not have alcohol or drugs in his possession; and
• not be in a place where alcohol is being served.

One of the charges for which Kippomee served his three-year sentence was failing to comply with a previous release condition.

In a statement, the RCMP said that "after careful deliberation and consideration of all related issues, including privacy concerns," they believe releasing this warning is in the public interest, to allow citizens to take precautionary measures.

"The RCMP believe that there is a significant risk to the safety of the public."

They added a warning against taking "any form of vigilante action."

In 2001, Kippomee was sentenced in an Inuvik court to 22 months for sexual interference, assault with a weapon and escaping police custody. He was 20 at the time of the incidents and his victim was 12.

Although he was ordered then to have no contact with the victim, in 2002, according to newspaper reports, he was given an additional year's sentence for sending threatening letters to the young woman, with whom he had fathered a child.