THUNDER BAY – Ontario’s police watchdog is investigating an allegation of sexual assault against an officer with the Thunder Bay Police Service.
The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) invoked its mandate after the allegation was reported by the TBPS on Oct. 29. Police forces are legally obligated to immediately report allegations of sexual assault to the SIU.
The assault is alleged to have occurred that same day.
No other information about the complaint has been made public by the SIU. A spokesperson said that follows agency policy.
“In cases involving allegations of sexual assault, the SIU does not release details to the public which could potentially identify the individual alleging a sexual assault occurred or the officer who was the subject of the allegation,” communications coordinator Monica Hudon wrote in an email.
“This is because the release of information related to investigations of sexual assault allegations is associated with a risk of further deterring what is already an under-reported crime and undermining the heightened privacy interests of the involved parties, most emphatically, the complainants.”
The SIU investigates interactions between police and civilians in Ontario that result in serious injury, death, or allegations of sexual assault.
After the current investigation is complete, it will be up to SIU director Joseph Martino to decide if the evidence leads to the reasonable belief a criminal offence has been committed. If so, Martino would be empowered to lay charges against the officer.
TBnewswatch has reached out to the TBPS for comment on this story.
