An RCMP inspector and his then-girlfriend have been charged in a sexual assault that police allege occurred while the male accused was a constable in Saskatchewan more than 30 years ago.

Mounties in Saskatchewan say a woman came forward last April with information about historical sexual assaults. In December, the woman provided a detailed statement to police in which she alleged she was the victim of a sexual assault in the summer of 1982.

The alleged victim would have been 12 years old at the time of the alleged incident.

After an investigation, police arrested Insp. Ronald Patrick Makar Tuesday morning at his workplace. Until Tuesday, he served as the operations officer in charge of the Wood Buffalo RCMP detachment in Fort McMurray, Alta.

Makar, 54, is facing two charges: one count of having sexual intercourse with a female person without her consent, and one count of having sexual intercourse with a female person under the age of 14.

Police also arrested Constance Haduik on April 10 in Kyle, Sask. and charged her with one count of indecent assault of a female person. Police say Makar and Haduik, 56, were in a romantic relationship at the time of the alleged assault.

The alleged victim was known to the couple, and was at the home where the alleged offence occurred of her free will, police say. The alleged assault took place at a home outside Carlyle, Sask. At the time, Makar was a constable with two years of service, and was posted to the RCMP’s Carlyle detachment.

Makar and Haduik have been charged with offences as they existed in the criminal code at the time the alleged offence occurred, police said.

Supt. Alfredo Bangloy, assistance criminal operations officer in charge of provincial policing in Saskatchewan, told reporters Tuesday that Makar has been suspended with pay “pending further consideration.”

“Allegations like these are disturbing when made against a member of the general public,” Bangloy said. “For a serving police officer to be facing charges like these is extremely disturbing.”

Makar has spent most of his 34-year career in Saskatchewan, including in Carlyle, Kyle, Fond du Lac, Regina, Milestone and at “F” Division headquarters. He received his commission in 2012 and transferred to Alberta for his current post at Wood Buffalo.

In September of that year, Makar was among a number of members of the detachment to be awarded a Diamond Jubilee medal, handed out to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s 60 years on the throne.

Makar will not return to work until the criminal charges against him are resolved, Chief Supt. Marlin Degrand, criminal operations officer for the Alberta RCMP, told reporters Tuesday afternoon.

Makar will also be subject to an internal disciplinary process, which has been initiated, Degrand said.

“Anytime a police officer is charged or allegations of this nature come out in relation to an officer, it’s not a good day for the organization,” Degrand said. “It’s not something that any of us is happy with.”

Degrand said he is not aware of any similar allegations being brought against Makar in Alberta.

Both Makar and Haduik have been released from custody, and will make their first court appearances on June 4 in Carlyle.