Gatineau officers facing charges

A police officer from Gatineau will face two criminal charges of breach of trust by a public officer after a seven-month investigation.

In a news release, the Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau said officer Nicolas Marceau was arrested on July 29, on allegations that, between Feb. 5, 2014 and June 29, the officer allegedly used police computers to access private information about civilians.

On April 11, the officer allegedly accessed information about a woman’s ex-husband and provided that information to the woman. In another case, on June 29, the officer allegedly looked up private information about the neighbours of one of his friends.

The officer did not receive any compensation for the information, according to police.

Marceau, who has been suspended with pay since his arrest, faces criminal charges of breach of trust and unauthorized use of a computer for personal reasons.

The department said it would meet with the municipality to determine what measures it should take in regards to the charges facing Marceau during the legal proceedings.

If he is convicted, Marceau will be automatically dismissed from duty.

In the second case, also reported by Gatineau police on Tuesday afternoon, the criminal prosecution division authorized the laying of two drunk driving-related charges be laid against police officer Christian Cousineau.

The charges are driving while faculties were impaired and driving with more than 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood.

Cousineau was arrested Dec. 4 at 3:45 a.m. by Gatineau police responding to a call of a man asleep at the wheel of a car stopped on Maloney Boulevard near Montéee Paiement.

Cousineau, who was not on duty at the time of the arrest, was taken to Sûreté du Québec offices for testing.

He was released on a promise to appear and his licence was suspended for 90 days and his vehicle impounded.

Cousineau has been assigned to desk duty during the investigation.