News Release
Former Peel Regional Police Detective Charged with Sexual Assault
Case Number: 20-OSA-211
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Joseph Martino, has caused a charge to be laid against a former detective with the Peel Regional Police (PRP) in relation to an incident that reportedly occurred in Barrie in the summer of 1992.
On August 25, 2020, a woman contacted PRP alleging she had been sexually assaulted by an officer in the summer of 1992. PRP, in turn, contacted the SIU that same day resulting in the SIU invoking its mandate.
As a result of the SIU investigation, Paul Chisholm is facing one count of sexual assault, contrary to s. 271 of the Criminal Code.
Mr. Chisholm is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 75 Mulcaster Street in Barrie on January 11, 2021.
The matter is now properly before the courts. In consideration of the fair trial interests of the accused, 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