When a police watchdog agency closed its investigation into sexual assault allegations against a Wellington OPP officer last month, it did so because the scope grew beyond the agency’s mandate, a spokesperson explained.
Now the matter, which involves at least two instances of alleged sexual assault by an officer with the local detachment, is back in the hands of the OPP.
“The OPP is reviewing the information and (Special Investigations Unit) decision in order to determine the next steps of the investigation,” Wellington OPP spokesperson Const. Josh Cunningham wrote in an email response to GuephToday, which inquired whether another police agency would be brought in to handle the investigation.
“We understand the importance of accountability in maintaining public trust. Our review process will ensure that all aspects of the incident are examined fairly and comprehensively.”
According to the SIU, the alleged incidents involving a Wellington OPP officer are said to have occurred in the summer of 2019. They were reported to the SIU in February, prompting the probe that was closed last month.
“The sexual assault complaints arose in a broader context involving other allegations that did not fall within the SIU’s jurisdiction,” explained SIU spokesperson Monica Hudon via email. “The director was of the view that it was in the interests of justice to have one agency take a look at the entire event, allowing that agency to benefit from evidentiary assessments relating to the allegations in their entirety.
“Since the SIU was not in a position to do that, the matter was referred back in its entirety to the police service.”
The SIU’s mandate is to ensure interactions with police that result in serious injury, death, the discharge of a firearm at a person or allegations of sexual assault are “subjected to rigorous, independent investigations,” explains a post on the agency’s website.
For the most part, SIU investigations relate to the alleged on-duty actions of police, but not always. The website notes off-duty actions can be investigated if they are said to have “involved equipment or other property issued to the (police) official in relation to his or her duties.”
