News Release

News Release

Peterborough Police Officer Charged

Case Number: 15-OSA-028   

Mississauga (9 June, 2015) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Tony Loparco, has reasonable grounds to believe that a Peterborough Police Service officer committed a criminal offence against a 40-year-old woman in January of 2015. Director Loparco has caused a charge to be laid against the officer.   

The SIU was contacted by the Peterborough Police Service on February 13, 2015 regarding a complaint of a sexual nature against an off-duty officer, which was alleged to have taken place on January 24, 2015. As a result of the SIU investigation, Constable Christopher Robertson is facing one charge of sexual assault, contrary to s. 271 of the Criminal Code of Canada.

As this matter is now before the courts, and in consideration of the fair trial interests of the accused and the community, the SIU will make no further comment pertaining to this investigation. 

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as special constables with the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service) that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, the Director of the SIU must

• consider whether the official has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
• depending on the evidence, cause a criminal charge to be laid against the official where grounds exist for doing so, or close the file without any charges being laid
• publicly report the results of its investigations