Sarnia’s police chief, currently on suspension, is now under investigation for potential criminal activities following a complaint filed by a local business owner and former city council member. The Inspectorate of Policing in Ontario forwarded the complaint to York Regional Police, an external law enforcement agency, based on the belief that the reported incidents could involve criminal behavior. A spokesperson from York Regional Police confirmed an active criminal investigation but declined to disclose further details.
The investigation was initiated after Nathan Colquhoun submitted a complaint earlier this year, citing concerns about Chief Derek Davis’ recruitment practices and personal consulting engagements. Colquhoun, the proprietor and columnist of The Sarnia Journal, alleged that Davis misused public resources by sending libel notices to the publication. Davis had previously filed and then retracted a $1.5 million defamation lawsuit against Colquhoun and his media company.
Davis, appointed as chief in 2022, was placed on paid suspension in May following accusations of workplace harassment, which were being investigated by an external legal team. Despite attempts to contact him, Davis has not responded to requests for comments. Kelly Ash, the chair of the Sarnia Police Services Board, acknowledged public concerns but refrained from providing details on the criminal probe in a recent statement.
Efforts have been made to obtain a copy of the complaint and supporting documentation from Colquhoun. In the interim, Toronto’s former Deputy Police Chief Mike Federico is serving as the acting chief for the Sarnia police department during Davis’ suspension.
