The province’s Special Investigations Unit says it has terminated an investigation into a report that a woman was injured by a Peterborough Police Service officer in the fall of 2020.
According to SIU director Joseph Martino, on Dec. 2, the Peterborough Police Service contacted the SIU to report that it had received information suggesting that a woman had suffered an injury at the hands of a police officer on Oct. 15, 2020.
Martino said that the SIU launched an investigation, but that the alleged victim declined to participate in an interview via telephone and repeatedly stated there was no complaint.
“Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, I am satisfied that the investigation ought to be discontinued at this time as the woman declined to discuss with SIU investigators any aspect of the incident,” Martino said in his report issued Thursday.
“In the circumstances, the SIU is without any information to confirm whether it even has jurisdiction in the matter, nor is there a sufficient evidentiary foundation from which to proceed with an investigation even if jurisdiction was established. The file is closed.”
Following the SIU’s report, the Peterborough Police Service said it received “vague” information involving an “unknown” police officer from an “unknown police service.”
“As per the regulations, the Special Investigations Unit was promptly and correctly notified of the incident,” police stated. “The SIU conducted their investigation and it has since been closed. At this time, there is nothing further to add to this investigation.”
The SIU is an independent agency in Ontario that investigates incidents involving police that have resulted in death, serious injury or alleged sexual assault.