News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into Conduct of Peel Police Officer, Found to be Off-Duty
Case Number: 22-OCI-293
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the alleged assault of a man involving a Peel Regional Police officer in Stratford last month.
On November 5, 2022, the officer was at a hotel in Stratford for a youth hockey tournament. There was a dispute involving the officer, and two other men. One of the men adopted an aggressive posture towards the officer, as if intending to strike him, and the officer struck him twice in the face and once in the neck. He fell to the ground and suffered a broken leg.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, Director Martino was not satisfied that the officer “exercised the powers of a peace officer” in connection with the incident. As such, the SIU was without jurisdiction to continue its investigation. The file has been closed and the matter referred to Stratford Police Service for further 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
Lisez ce communiqué en français.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES