News Release
SIU Director Comments on LeSage Recommendations
Case Number: N/A
Mississauga (7 April, 2011) --- The Ministry of the Attorney General today released recommendations by the Honourable Patrick LeSage regarding the Special Investigations Unit (SIU).
The SIU received the report at 9:30 this morning. In deference to the Ombudsman’s ongoing investigation and the pending litigation before the Ontario Court of Appeal in the Schaeffer matter, dealing with some of the same issues raised in the report, the Unit is unable to comment at this time.
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