Update – Cobourg Police Service Board Update on Anonymous Complaint

Pete Fisher
1 month ago
• Categories: Local, Police Blotter

The Cobourg Police Service Board (CPSB) has received a response from the Inspectorate of Policing regarding an anonymous complaint received by the CPSB in November 2024.

The CPSB will convene to discuss the next course of action once advice from legal counsel has been
received.

“The Board has received a follow up from the Inspectorate of Policing and is working to determine the
appropriate next step. The Board encourages any members who may be experiencing workplace issues to
follow up in the appropriate manner.” – Chair Ron Kerr, Cobourg Police Service Board.

The Board wishes to remind the public that there are several independent and confidential avenues for
reporting policing concerns without involvement of the Cobourg Police Service. Under section 107 of the
Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA), complainants must identify themselves for complaints made
to the Inspector General.

• Inspectorate of Policing
https://www.iopontario.ca/en/complaints/make-or-manage-a-complaint

• Law Enforcement Complains Agency https://complaint.leca.ca/LECA.Efile/Complaint_en.html

A copy of the letter from the Inspectorate of Policing is attached below.
Please direct any inquiries to Sarah Giddings at sarah.giddings@cobourgpolice.onmicrosoft.com

 

December 3, 2024

Cobourg Police Service Board
107 King St W.
Cobourg, Ontario
K9A 2M4

Dear Chair Kerr,

I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your correspondence dated November 4, 2024. The information contained in your correspondence consisted of a copy of an anonymous complaint that was sent to the Board. To ensure a fair and transparent process, complainants must identify themselves for complaints made to the Inspector General under section 107 of the Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA). As a result, anonymous complaints will not be treated by the Inspector General as a complaint under section 107 of the CSPA.

As you are aware, pursuant to subsection 183 (2) of the CSPA, the Board is required to establish written procedures regarding the disclosure of misconduct that is alleged to have been engaged in by the chief of police or deputy chief of police of the police service.

Additionally, the chief of police is required to establish written procedures regarding the disclosure of misconduct that is alleged to have been engaged in by members of its police service, other than by the chief of police or deputy chief of police, as per subsection 183 (1).

To that end, we recommend that the Board ensure that the Board itself and the chief are in compliance with their obligations to establish procedures under section 183 of the CSPA.

Your designated Police Service Advisor, Graham Wight, will continue to monitor this matter, and be available to consult with and advise the Cobourg Police Service Board as required.

If you have any follow-up inquiries relating to this correspondence, please reach out to Graham Wight.

Sincerely,

Joseph Maiorano

Deputy Inspector General of Policing of Ontario