Length of SIU cases troubles chief

Average of 111 days to close an investigation ‘erodes public trust,’ Larkin says

WATERLOO REGION — Lengthy investigations by the province’s police watchdog are eroding public confidence and leaving victims, their families and police officers in limbo, Waterloo Region’s police chief says.

Chief Bryan Larkin was responding to the Special Investigation Unit’s 2016 annual report, which was released Thursday. Among the statistics, the SIU noted that it takes almost 111 days, on average, to close a case. It can take even longer, for example, when an outside expert is retained to provide an opinion on evidence.

“It’s a significant concern,” said Larkin, who was also recently named president of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police.

SIU investigation delays were also cited in a review of Ontario’s police oversight bodies; Justice Michael Tulloch’s report, released in April, made 129 recommendations in total — among them, that the SIU complete its investigations and report to the public on the results within 120 days, or, failing that, report to the public every 60 days after that until the case is closed.

Larkin said he recognizes that the workload for the SIU — which examines incidents involving police where there has been a death, serious injury or allegation of sexual assault — is increasing.

But long delays in resolving cases leave important questions unanswered, he said. “One of my primary concerns is around transparency.”

Especially in cases where a death has occurred, families can be left in the dark, with the police service involved unable to provide information as the investigation progresses. “I think it erodes public trust,” Larkin said.

Internally, “we have officers who really don’t know their fate or their outcome, sometimes for up to 15 months,” he added. That can affect their well-being, and can tax police resources if an officer has been reassigned pending the outcome of an SIU investigation, he said.

Thirteen investigations involving Waterloo Regional Police were opened by the SIU in 2016, down from 18 the previous year. Eight of the 13 cases have been closed by the SIU; none of the eight are believed to have led to officers being charged.

Provincewide, the SIU opened 327 new investigations last year, up about six per cent over 2015. The agency closed 296 cases last year, up from 255 in 2015, and charged 20 officers in connection to 17 of the cases.

Larkin said he’s optimistic the Tulloch report will bring about change.

The SIU is the longest-serving civilian oversight body of its kind in Canada, he noted. “Over time, there needs to be modernization and evolution,” he said. “We’re at a crossroads … There’s still room for improvement.” bdavis@therecord.com, Twitter: @DavisRecord With files from The Canadian Press