Sarnia’s police chief, currently on suspension, is now under investigation for potential criminal activities following a complaint lodged by a local business owner and former city council member. The Ontario Inspectorate of Policing referred the complaint to York Regional Police due to suspicions that the reported incidents could be unlawful. York Regional Police confirmed an active and ongoing criminal investigation but declined to disclose further details.
The investigation was initiated after Nathan Colquhoun submitted a complaint earlier this year, alleging misconduct in Chief Derek Davis’ recruitment practices and personal consulting engagements. Colquhoun, the owner and columnist of The Sarnia Journal, claimed that Davis misused public resources by sending libel notices to The Journal. Davis had previously filed, then retracted, a $1.5 million defamation lawsuit against Colquhoun and his media company.
Davis, appointed as chief in 2022, had been on paid suspension since May while an external legal team probed allegations of workplace harassment. Despite attempts to reach Davis for comment, he has not responded. Kelly Ash, the chair of the Sarnia Police Services Board, expressed understanding for the public’s concerns but refrained from commenting on the ongoing criminal investigation.
Colquhoun has been requested to share a copy of the complaint and related documents with CBC News. In the interim, Toronto’s former Deputy Police Chief Mike Federico has assumed the role of interim chief for the Sarnia police service during Davis’s suspension.