News Release

News Release

Former Ontario Provincial Police Officer Charged

Case Number: 13-PSA-227   

Mississauga (5 December, 2014) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Tony Loparco, has reasonable grounds to believe that a former Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer committed a criminal offence against a woman in 1986, while the officer was still a member of the police service in Thunder Bay. Director Loparco has caused a charge to be laid against the former officer. 

The SIU was contacted by the OPP regarding a complaint of a sexual nature against the former officer, which was alleged to have taken place on April 23, 1986. As a result of the SIU investigation, former OPP Constable Joseph Girard is facing one charge of Sexual Assault, contrary to s. 246.1 (as it then stood) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
  
Mr. Girard is compelled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 125 Brodie Street North in Thunder Bay on January 20, 2015. The Justice Prosecutions branch of the Ministry of the Attorney General will have carriage of the prosecution.

As this matter is now before the courts, and in consideration of the fair trial interests of the charged officer and the community, the SIU will make no further comment pertaining to this investigation.

If you or someone you know has been negatively affected by an incident under SIU investigation and would like support, the Affected Persons Program is here to help. You can reach us at 1-877-641-1897. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7, every day of the year.

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (municipal, regional and provincial police officers, police officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, 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