Bridgewater police chief to appear on sex charges July 27

A lawyer for Bridgewater Police Chief John Collyer, who is facing sexual assault and sexual exploitation charges involving a teenage girl, appeared for his client’s arraignment Wednesday in Bridgewater Provincial Court.

David Bright of Dartmouth law firm BoyneClark LLP waived the

Collyer

reading of the charges and promised Collyer will appear in court on July 27 to enter a plea.

The matter will then be heard before the Provincial or Supreme Court, Bright said in a brief interview after he left the courtroom.

Collyer – who has an Exemplary Service Medal for 20 years of service – faces one charge of sexual assault and two counts of sexual exploitation.

These offences are alleged to have occurred between April 1, 2016, and July 31, 2016. Asked by Provincial Court Judge Catherine Benton whether he had read the police investigation report concerning the charges, Bright answered he had not.

The inquiry into Collyer’s conduct was made public in August 2016 and ended with three charges being laid.

The Serious Incident Response Team launched an investigation based on allegations and witness reports suggesting Collyer was involved in illegal sexual activity with a 17-yearold girl.

Documentary evidence was received by SiRT, in April leading to the charge May 4.

At the time charges were laid against the police chief, Board of Police Commissioners chair Pat Capello would not discuss whether the leave Collyer was placed on in August 2016 was paid or unpaid.

Collyer has been the chief in Bridgewater since December 2011 and was deputy chief from April 2008 until his promotion.