A Chatham-Kent Police Service officer has been charged with sexual assault, following an investigation by the Special Investigations Unit.
An SIU investigation found the following:
– Around 2 a.m. on August 23, 2015, a 23-year-old woman encountered a Chatham-Kent Police officer.
– The woman was driven in a marked cruiser to a parking lot in the Orangewood Boulevard area.
– The woman was allegedly sexually assaulted.
As a result of this investigation, the Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has reasonable grounds to believe the officer committed the criminal offences of sexual assault and breach of trust. He has caused two charges to be laid.
Const. Kenneth Miller is now facing one count of sexual assault, contrary to s. 271 of the Criminal Code of Canada, and one count of breach of trust in connection with the duties of his office, contrary to s. 122 of the Criminal Code of Canada, in relation to this particular incident.
The officer is set to appear in court on July 5.
“The matter is now properly before the courts. In consideration of the fair trial interests of the accused, the SIU will make no further comment,” SIU officials stated.
The SIU is an arm’s length agency that investigates reports involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault.
Under the Police Services Act, the Director of the SIU must consider whether an officer has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation depending on the evidence, lay a criminal charge against the officer if appropriate or close the file without any charges being laid report the results of any investigations to the Attorney General.
Inspector Ed Reed of the CKPS said the Chatham-Kent Police Service became aware of an allegations on August 26, 2015.
“Based on the nature of the allegation the Professional Standards Branch of the Chatham-Kent Police Service contacted the Special Investigations Unit as required under the Police Services Act,” Reed said in a press release.
The SIU invoked their mandate and commenced their investigations, Reed said.
“With the matter being under investigation by the S.I.U. the CKPS could not release any media on the incident at that time,” he said.
At the commencement of this investigation the involved officer was suspended from duty on August 27, 2015.
The officer has also been subsequently charged under the Police Services Act with ‘Discreditable Conduct’, Reed said.
“As you are now aware the SIU has completed their investigations and criminal charges have been laid against Police Constable Ken Miller. He remains suspended from duty,” Reed said.
“Under the Police Services Act the CKPS Professional Standards Branch will be conducting further internal investigations regarding the possibility of additional Police Service Act charges and a policy / procedure review as required. The Police Service Act charge will be spoken to on June 6th 2016 where we will receive further instructions from the designated Hearing Officer.”
Reed said with the matter now before the courts there will be no further updates with the exception of further information regarding the dates and times of a future Police Service Act hearing date once determined.
