News Release

SIU Lays Charge Against Greater Sudbury Police Officer

Case Number: 07-OSA-042   

TORONTO (25 April, 2007) --- James Cornish, the Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), has caused a criminal charge to be laid against a Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS) officer.

On February 28, 2007, the GSPS notified the SIU that a female complainant had come forward with a complaint of sexual assault. As a result, three SIU investigators were assigned to investigate an incident in which the complainant alleged that she was sexually assaulted by Sergeant (Sgt) Robert Geick on an occasion in the mid-1990s.

Based on the evidence from the SIU investigation, the Director has concluded that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Sgt Robert Geick committed the offence of sexual assault in the City of Greater Sudbury, contrary to section 271 of the Criminal Code of Canada.

The officer has been released on a Promise to Appear and an Undertaking with conditions. He will next appear in court on May 9, 2007, in Sudbury. Justice Prosecutions of the Ministry of the Attorney General will have carriage of the prosecution.

As this matter is now before the courts, and in consideration of the fair trial interests of the charged officer 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
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES