CORNWALL, Ontario – A Cornwall police officer is facing a criminal charge following a domestic violence investigation.
OPP in Grenville County charged the officer nearly two weeks ago, but Cornwall police only released the information Tuesday.
The 43-year-old male officer has been charged with assault.
Cornwall Const. Dan Cloutier said the reason for the delay in releasing the information locally is two-fold.
“It wasn’t our investigation,” he said in an interview. “And he was charged on March 12…and it had to be reviewed by our professional standards (officer) prior to our release.”
Professional standards officer, Staff Sgt. Dan Maille, was away on vacation until this week.
“In an effort to be transparent we released it,” continued Cloutier.
The officer, who has been a member with the Cornwall Community Police Service since 2008, is to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Brockville, on April 10.
The officer has been reassigned to administrative duties and is still being paid.
Cloutier said this is typical of police officers who have been charged with a crime, depending on the severity of the charges. In other cases officers can be suspended with pay.
“As with all domestic related incidents, the Cornwall Community Police Service does not release the name of the charged person to protect the privacy of victims of domestic violence,” Cornwall police said in a statement.
Seaway News has learned the identity of the officer, but is likewise withholding the name because it would identify the victim in the matter.
The Cornwall police union is pledging to co-operate in the criminal investigation and is also standing by the officer and his family.
“The (Cornwall Police Association) is supporting our member and his family while the OPP and (Cornwall police) complete their investigation into this matter,” said police association president Dave MacLean.
