Police release statement on 3 officers accused of sexually assaulting colleague

Toronto police have broken their silence six days after CityNews exclusively broke details of the explosive allegation that three officers sexually assaulted a female colleague during an after work-party at a downtown hotel last month.

Citynews is choosing not the name the officers since criminal charges have not been laid. They work at 51 Division near King and Parliament streets and have between five and 10 years’ experience on the force. All three have been suspended with pay while the internal investigation plays out. The alleged victim, a woman, is a parking enforcement officer.

In a statement sent exclusively to CityNews on Wednesday, Toronto police spokesperson Meaghan Grey said the allegations are being treated extremely seriously.

“Any allegation of sexual assault against a member of the Service is treated extremely seriously,” Gray said. “Whatever resources are necessary are dedicated to such investigations, including subject matter experts from the Professional Standards and Sex Crimes Unit. If criminal charges are laid, we will issue a news release.”

Outspoken police critic and high profile lawyer Clayton Ruby said the fact that no charges have been laid weeks after the alleged crime is unheard of.

“It really doesn’t take a long time to investigate sexual assault. It’s not like a murder,” said Ruby. “In 99 cases out of a hundred you talk to the person who has been sexually assaulted, you lay the charge immediately and then you let the Crown Attorney sort it out. What they have done is kept it all in house where they can control it.”

So far there has been no comment from officials on why such serious allegations are being investigated internally and not handed over to another police agency such as the Ontario Provincial Police.

The Special Investigations Unit, which is aware of the situation, said it does not normally investigate off-duty officers “acting in the course of their private lives.”

“If, however, an officer is off-duty and police equipment or property is used or the officer identifies himself or herself as a police officer in the course of the occurrence, the SIU can investigate if there is death, injury and allegations of sexual assault,” the police watchdog told CityNews.

There has also been no word from the police union, which represents both the accused and the alleged victim, on why the off-duty officers have been supplied with high profile police lawyer Gary Clewley.

When asked on Wednesday whether the TPA was also providing a lawyer to the alleged victim, they supplied the following statement exclusively to CityNews.

“Typically, the TPA does not comment on the provision of counsel to our members but we can assure you that we that we are working closely with the complainant in this case to provide the resources and support she needs during this time,” the statement read.

Last week Mike McCormack, president of the TPA, told CityNews the officers’ suspension is not a determination of guilt. They have been removed from duty so the investigation can continue “unfettered.”