The Quinte West Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has arrested Commanding Officer of CFB Trenton Col. Leif Dahl stemming from an incident along the Murray Canal that involved a firearm.
On August 25, 2023, at approximately 2:30 p.m., Quinte West OPP responded to the canal in Quinte West for a complaint of a firearm being discharged from a boat, stated a release by OPP.
It was reported to police that protected wildlife was being targeted.
The vessel left the area prior to police arrival but was located a short time later.
During the investigation it was learned that a firearm was thrown into the canal. The OPP’s Underwater Search and Recovery Unit was dispatched to assist in its recovery. An investigation led to a person being arrested.
Leif DAHL, 45 years old from Belleville was charged with the following offences:
Obstruct peace officer – Criminal Code (CC)
Careless use of firearm – CC
Use firearm carelessly to hunt – Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act (FWCA)
Hunt bird without a licence – FWCA
Unlawfully have a loaded firearm in conveyance – FWCA
The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Belleville on September 28, 2023. The investigation is still ongoing.
National Defence Media Relations Andree-Anne Poulin stated, “The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) is aware of a hunting-related incident that took place on Friday, August 25 involving Colonel Leif Dahl, the Commander of 8 Wing and CFB Trenton.”
Poulin said as the matter is still under investigation and before the courts, any additional comment would not be appropriate and didn’t say what the status is of the Commanding Officer at CFB Trenton.
“The CAF will have more to say on Col Dahl’s status in due course. ”
Colonel Leif Dahl was born and raised in Chicoutimi, Quebec. He joined the Canadian Armed Forces in May 1997 as an Infantry Officer in the Reserve Force. In January 2000, Colonel Dahl joined the Regular Forces and started pilot training with the Royal Canadian Air Force.
After earning his Wings in 2003, he was sent to Trenton, Ontario, to fly the CC-130 Hercules with 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron and 436 TransportSquadron. He deployed for a total of eight months in Afghanistan and flew over 500 hours in support of various International Security Assistance Force missions. He was then posted to 437 TransportSquadron, also based in Trenton, in 2009. There, he flew the CC-150 Polaris. Promoted to the rank of Major in January 2010, Colonel Dahl served as the Squadron Operation Officer and Deputy Commanding Officer (CO). During his posting at 437 Transport Squadron, he was deployed as the CC-150 Tanker Flight Commander in Trapani, Sicily, and flew over 200 hours in support of Operation MOBILE.
After 9 years and 3000 hours of operational flying, Colonel Dahl was posted to NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, in 2012, where he served as Executive Assistant of the Military Representative of Canada to the NATO Military Committee. Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in July 2015, he returned to Canada and became the Officer in Charge of the Strategic Situation Centre within the Strategic Joint Staff at National Defence Headquarters (NDHQ) in Ottawa. From July 2016 to June 2018, he commanded 437 TransportSquadron. During his tenure as CO, he deployed as Air Mobility Detachment Commander in Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, where he flew 50 hours in support of Operation IMPACT. In June 2018, he was posted back to Ottawa in the Directorate of Air Requirements. Promoted to his current rank in June 2019, he served as Director General Coordination within the Strategic Joint Staff at NDHQ in Ottawa. From July 2021 to July 2022, he was the Director Defence Programme Coordination at Chief of Programme Division.
He assumed command of 8 Wing Trenton on July 29, 2022.
He has a Bachelor’s degree in Military Art and Science from Royal Military College of Canada Kingston, is a graduate of the Cursus Supérieur d’État-Major from the Belgian Military Academy (École royale militaire), holds an Executive Master of Business Administration from Athabasca University, and is a graduate of the National Security Program.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
