Sarnia’s police chief, currently suspended, is now under investigation for possible criminal activities following a complaint filed by a local business owner and former city councillor. The complaint was forwarded by Ontario’s Inspectorate of Policing to York Regional Police, an external law enforcement agency, due to suspicions that the reported incidents might constitute criminal offenses.
According to a spokesperson from York Regional Police, the investigation is active and ongoing, although specific details were not disclosed. The inquiry was initiated after Nathan Colquhoun submitted a complaint earlier this year, accusing Chief Derek Davis of questionable hiring practices and conflicts of interest in private consulting endeavors.
In an email to CBC News, Colquhoun, owner and columnist of The Sarnia Journal, stated that his complaint also alleged Davis misused public resources by sending libel notices to his publication. Earlier this year, Davis filed and later retracted a $1.5 million defamation lawsuit against Colquhoun and his media company.
Davis, who assumed the chief position in 2022, had been on paid suspension since May while an external legal team probed allegations of workplace harassment. Despite attempts to contact Davis for his response, he could not be reached by CBC News.
Kelly Ash, chair of the Sarnia Police Services Board, expressed understanding for the public’s concerns but refrained from commenting on the criminal investigation details. Interim chief duties for the Sarnia police service are being overseen by Toronto’s former Deputy Police Chief Mike Federico during Davis’s suspension.