News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Death of Peel Regional Police Officer
Case Number: 08-OCD-108
Other News Releases Related to Case 08-OCD-108
SIU Continues to Investigate Off-duty Death of Peel Regional Police Officer in Cambridge
SIU Investigates Off-duty Death of Peel Regional Police Officer in Cambridge
The body of the 41-year-old off-duty police officer was found inside his locked personal vehicle around 4:30 a.m. in a laneway of a farmer's field in Wellington County Roads 34 and 35 near Cambridge north of Highway 401.
A post-mortem examination confirmed that the 21-year veteran officer, a resident of Cambridge, died as a result of a single gunshot wound to the head. His service pistol was found in the vehicle.
"This is a tragic end to an unsuccessful and concerted effort made by several police officers and civilians to convince this man to surrender peacefully," concluded SIU Director James Cornish. "I can see no evidence that causes me to believe that any officers caused or contributed to this man's death; indeed, it appears to me that they did all they could to try to prevent it."
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