Peterborough police have charged one of their own after an off-duty officer discharged a privately owned firearm inside of a west-end home on New Year’s Eve, with the bullet exiting the officer’s home and striking a neighbouring home.
After an investigation, police arrested the officer on Wednesday (January 7) and charged them with careless discharge of a firearm. Police have not identified the officer who has been charged.
“I recognize that anytime criminal charges are laid against an officer it impacts public trust and confidence,” said police chief Stuart Betts in a media release. “We understand that we must earn your trust and confidence through our actions each and every day. This is why we have been as open as possible throughout the investigation of this incident, including informing the community of the incident and investigation as well as consulting with outside agencies and the Crown Attorney’s office prior to the laying of charges.”
Police first became aware of the incident at around 6:40 p.m. on December 31, when the accused officer attended the Peterborough police station to advise they had discharged a personal and legally owned firearm in their home. Shortly after, a neighbouring homeowner called 9-1-1 after returning home to find a bullet hole in their bedroom.
Officers attended the officer’s home to initiate an investigation and to ensure there were no ongoing safety concerns.
During the initial investigation, police learned the officer had discharged a single round from the firearm inside their home, which resulted in the bullet exiting the officer’s home and entering a neighbouring home. No one was at the neighbouring home at the time of the incident, and no one was injured in either home.
Police seized the firearm involved in the incident, and forensic investigators attended both homes to retrieve the bullet, match it to the seized firearm, and confirm the trajectory the bullet took.
Police immediately made arrangements to notify the Chief Firearms Office of the incident, and also contacted the oversees manufacturer of the firearm to coordinate a functional test and examination of the firearm.
Police have not provided any information about whether the officer intentionally or unintentionally discharged the firearm. However, police say the officer had recently purchased the firearm. In accordance with the Firearms Act, other firearms in the home have been lawfully transferred to the possession of another individual who does not residing in the home.
The accused officer has been released on an undertaking, with conditions, and is scheduled to appear in court on February 10. Police say that, under the provisions of the Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA), the officer has been removed from their regular duties and has been reassigned to administrative duties pending the conclusion of the criminal matter.
“We are very much aware that there could have been a devastating outcome as a result of this incident, and we are thankful that no one was physically injured,” Chief Betts said.
Once the criminal matter has been resolved, a professional standards misconduct investigation will take place. Police say that, as the matter is now before the courts, they will be providing no further comment at this time.
