Police chief of Bridgewater, N.S., facing allegations of sexual assault of youth

Aug 29, 2016 | 12:00 PM

BRIDGEWATER, N.S. — A veteran police chief in Bridgewater, N.S., has been placed on leave while investigators look into allegations of sexual assault and obstruction of justice made against him in relation to a teenaged girl.

Nova Scotia’s Serious Incident Response Team, or SIRT, announced earlier this month it was investigating information from an outside police force about the incidents involving the teen.

David Walker, the mayor of Bridgewater, confirmed Monday that Chief John Collyer is the person being investigated and that he was placed on administrative leave by the community’s police commission several weeks ago.

Walker says he was caught off guard by the allegations.

“We’re shocked and surprised,” he said. “We’re concerned for victims and Chief Collyer and his family.

“We hope that the SIRT team does a thorough investigation and makes a determination at some point, hopefully quickly and once all the facts are received.”

The mayor said he’s hoping that the investigation by the SIRT team will help clarify what has occurred and the information will be forwarded rapidly to the police commission.

“I think everybody in the community is going to be shocked with the allegations and everybody is going to be anxious to have the report and find out what is accurate and what is not,” said Walker.

No charges have been laid in the case.

Collyer also confirmed in an email that he was the individual under investigation.

“I have been placed on administrative leave until these allegations can be fully investigated,” he wrote. “I await the results of the SIRT investigation. At this time I will not be making further comments on the advice of my lawyer.”

The deputy chief of police, Scott Feener, has taken over leadership of the Bridgewater police while Collyer is on leave.

Ron MacDonald, the director of SIRT, said the investigation will proceed at the usual pace and a report will be filed upon its completion.

 

The Canadian Press