SIU charges York Regional Police officer with sexual assault, breach of trust
In a news release on Wednesday, the SIU said its director, Joseph Martino, has "reasonable grounds" to believe that the officer committed criminal offences in December 2023.
According to the SIU, it was notified by police on Feb. 7, 2024 of the alleged offences. The SIU then launched an investigation, which resulted in the two charges. The SIU did not say when the charges were laid.
The release does not name the officer or list his rank.
The SIU said the officer made his first court appearance in a Newmarket courtroom on June 24, 2025 and his next court appearance will be at the same courthouse on Sept. 16, 2025.
The charges were not announced earlier out of concern for the alleged victim, the SIU added.
"The SIU delayed this news release announcing the charges against the officer because of concerns raised about the potential impact on the complainant's mental health caused by public disclosure of the charges," the SIU said in the release.
"Pursuant to section 33(2) of the Special Investigations Unit Act, 2019, the SIU is also omitting the official's name from this public notice because of concerns that disclosure of the name may result in the identification of the complainant."
The SIU said it would not comment further on the investigation because the matter is before the courts and out of consideration of the "fair trial interests" of the accused.
The SIU is an independent agency that investigates the conduct of police officers in incidents that may have resulted in death, serious injury, the discharge of a firearm or allegations of sexual assault.
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