A veteran RCMP officer who assaulted a Dawson City woman last summer received a conditional discharge in territorial court today.

Const. Peter Mitchell, 44, who had been drinking at Diamond Tooth Gerties gambling casino in Dawson, had been walking around the town after his stint at the bar on Aug. 14, 2004.

The off-duty officer was not in uniform. He stumbled across a parked RCMP vehicle on Third Avenue during the early hours of the Discovery Day long weekend.

Const. Greg McHale was sitting in the car talking to Georgina Taylor and her daughter at around 2:30 a.m.

Mitchell shouldered Taylor out of the way, knocking her into the side view mirror, repeatedly telling her to f- off.

Taylor was not injured during the incident.

McHale and an auxiliary constable, Mark Favron, who was also in the car, had to restrain Mitchell with some force.

McHale drove his alcohol-impaired colleague home.

Once at his home, Mitchell became agitated. An altercation between he and McHale ensued outside the residence.

McHale regained control and calmed Mitchell down.

Mitchell told the court he has no recollection of the incident, adding he is embarrassed about what happened.

'I don't sleep at night,' the officer said.

Since the incident, Mitchell has not been allowed to wear a uniform nor operate any police vehicles. Instead, he has been driving a desk, as he has been assigned to administrative duties.

Mitchell has been an RCMP officer for 15 years. Dawson was his first posting in the Yukon. He has been there since last July.

While on administrative duties, Mitchell is not allowed to work on any active files. Nor was he allowed to participate in any parades related to the opening of the new police detachment in Dawson.

Being out of uniform has also meant that Mitchell does not have the opportunity to work any overtime.

His defence lawyer, Edward Horembala, said the loss of overtime work has cost Mitchell $2,000.

Territorial Judge Heino Lilles noted if Mitchell wasn't an RCMP officer, he likely would have been taken to the drunk tank and charges wouldn't have been laid.

Lilles granted Mitchell a conditional discharge.

'A person's career flashes before their eyes after an incident like this,' said Lilles.

The officer will serve a three-month probation period where he will have to make a $500-donation to the Dawson women's shelter.

Mitchell is also ordered to abstain from alcohol and undergo six counselling sessions.

Lilles said a jail term or a hefty fine could not be as strong a punishment when compared to the personal shame of the officer.

The critical judgment of Mitchell's peers and community would hold the officer accountable for his actions, said Lilles.

Mitchell was charged with obstructing a police officer, causing a disturbance by being drunk in public and of assaulting Taylor and McHale.

He only pleaded guilty to causing a disturbance and assaulting Taylor.

Now that the matter is out of court, Mitchell will be the subject of an internal RCMP review.

Horembala said Mitchell will likely be transferred out of the jurisdiction and will not be eligible for any promotions for the next year.

He also noted the transfer will disrupt Mitchell's family, as his wife will have to quit her job and his daughter will have to be pulled from her current school.