A former city councillor and local business owner has filed a complaint against Sarnia Police Chief Derek Davis.
In his complaint, Nathan Colquhoun alleges Davis has engaged in behaviour that compromises municipal security as well as violates the statutory standards of public transparency.
Sarnia Police Service (SPS) Board Chair Kelly Ash said the complaint has been sent to the Law Enforcement Complaints Agency (LECA).
The agency is responsible for receiving, managing and overseeing public complaints about misconduct of police officers.
Ash said right now it's out of their hands.
"Once LECA goes through the complaint, they will either screen it out and come back with 'there's nothing else to do with this' or they will refer it back to the police board," she said. "They'd do an investigation, and they'd ask the police board to do an investigation."
She said it's not the first complaint they've received from Colquhoun.
"I am aware that he did file one in January to the Inspectorate of Policing and I'm waiting for the letter from them," said Ash. "But, apparently that one was screened out as no basis for investigation."
Meanwhile, a legal letter has been sent to Colquhoun from counsel on behalf of the SPS in regards to what is described as a defamatory article published in the Sarnia Journal.
"He has been sent a letter, basically stating that the information that he's producing and stating is incorrect and defamatory towards the chief," said Ash. "He has been served one of those. There has been no suit filed yet. It's getting close, though."
Ash, on behalf of the SPS Board, said it stands behind the service and chief's decision to issue the notice to Colquhoun.
"Yes, 100 per cent, yes," said Ash. "In regards to this, yes we absolutely stand behind it."
