A Toronto police officer is facing a serious charge of sexual assault, according to authorities.
The officer, whose name has not been released, has been suspended with pay pending the outcome of the investigation.
The charge stems from an incident that allegedly occurred on April 25, 2021, while the officer was off-duty. The victim, who is known to the officer, reported the incident to police on May 1.
The officer has been charged with one count of sexual assault and is scheduled to appear in court on June 14.
In a statement, Toronto Police Chief James Ramer expressed his disappointment and emphasized that the alleged actions of one officer do not reflect the values and professionalism of the entire police force.
The Toronto Police Service has a zero-tolerance policy for any form of misconduct, and all allegations are taken seriously and thoroughly investigated.
The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has been notified and will be conducting an independent investigation into the incident.
This is not the first time a Toronto police officer has faced a sexual assault charge. In 2019, Constable Vittorio Dominelli was charged with sexual assault and breach of trust after allegedly assaulting a woman while on duty.
The Toronto Police Service has faced criticism in recent years for its handling of sexual assault cases, with some advocates calling for an overhaul of the system.
The officer in question has been a member of the Toronto Police Service for 10 years and has been assigned to a division in the city’s west end.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact the Toronto Police Service or Crime Stoppers.
