News Release
Hamilton Police Officer Charged in Sexual Assault Investigation
Case Number: 22-OSA-111
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has reasonable grounds to believe that a Hamilton Police Service officer committed a criminal offence between February 2022 and April 2022 against a woman. Director Martino has caused a charge to be laid against the officer.
The police service notified the SIU of the incident on April 14, 2022, and the Unit launched an investigation.
As a result of the SIU investigation, Cst Jeffery Turnbull is charged with one count of sexual assault contrary to section 271 of the Criminal Code.
Cst Turnbull is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 45 Main Street East in Hamilton on July 6, 2023.
As the matter is before the courts, and in consideration of the fair trial interests of the accused, the SIU will not provide further comment on the investigation.
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as special constables with the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service) that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, the Director of the SIU must
- consider whether the official has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
- depending on the evidence, cause a criminal charge to be laid against the official where grounds exist for doing so, or close the file without any charges being laid
- publicly report the results of its investigations
Lisez ce communiqué en français.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES