A meeting took place in Bridgewater on Thursday during which time the police commission dealt with the case of a police officer who is being investigated for sexual assault and obstruction of justice.
Nova Scotia’s Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) revealed on Monday that it is investigating information received from an outside police agency. SIRT says it received information about a Bridgwater police officer’s alleged actions involving a teenage girl about two weeks ago.
Police commissioners placed the Bridgewater police officer on administrative leave after the emergency in-camera meeting. It means the officer will stay home with pay for an indeterminate amount of time, but he is not suspended.
Bridgewater’s police chief was not at the meeting Thursday afternoon. CTV News was told he is on vacation.
The mayor attended the meeting, but neither he, nor the chair of the police commission, would say anything about who the officer is.
“Speaking on behalf of the Bridgewater Board of Police Commissioners and the Bridgewater Police Service, we place the member under investigation on administrative leave and that’s as much as I’m going to say to you,” said Pat Cappello, the chair of the Bridgewater Police Commission.
“It wouldn’t matter if it was a first-year constable, or the chief, or anybody in between the ranks I think,” said Bridgewater Mayor David Walker. “The allegations are serious. I think it’s disappointing, and we’re very interested in seeing the outcome of the SIRT report.”
CTV News asked why the police commission is placing the officer on administrative leave, and not the Bridgewater Police Service. The chair said he couldn't answer that question. CTV News also tried to reach the chief of police on his cellphone, but he did not answer. His deputy also hasn’t return calls made by reporters.
The Justice Department says it would be inappropriate to comment because the matter is under investigation.
No charges have been laid at this time.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kayla Hounsell
