Former RCMP Insp. Tim Shields has been charged with sexual assault in relation to his time in charge of a communications unit at the force's E Division headquarters in Vancouver.
B.C.'s Criminal Justice Branch said the charge came as a result from an investigation into sexual misconduct alleged to have occurred between 2009 and 2010.
The alleged victim was a civilian employee who worked with the strategic communications unit.
Shields' next court appearance is June 27 in Vancouver.
The high-profile officer, who voluntarily retired in December, was suspended with pay a year ago pending the outcome of a Code of Conduct investigation. RCMP officials noted at the time it was not a disciplinary measure.
Shields spent many years as media spokesman for the RCMP, starting with the Surrey detachment
He is also fighting two civil lawsuits alleging sexual harassment.
In a 2013 claim, civilian employee Atoya Montague accuses Shields of making several unwanted sexual advances toward her, such as inappropriate, sexually harassing comments and sent text messages.
Shields denied any wrongdoing, saying Montague never raised her concerns about him with a supervisor.
Another civilian worker at the RCMP, Anitra Singh, filed court documents against Shields in 2014, accusing him of sexual assault and sexual harassment.
- with files from the Peace Arch News