A seasoned detective from the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) is facing a two-year demotion due to discreditable conduct, as confirmed by a disciplinary tribunal. The detective, Const. Helen Grus, was found to have breached privacy by inappropriately accessing files of deceased children and questioning a parent about a mother’s vaccination status.
Grus was suspended in 2022 following allegations of engaging in an unauthorized project by accessing case files that were not under her jurisdiction. Additionally, she was accused of interfering in an investigation by contacting the father of a deceased infant to inquire about the COVID-19 vaccination status of the child’s mother.
After being found guilty of discreditable conduct in March 2025, Grus was demoted from the rank of first-class constable to second-class constable for a period of 24 months. Retired OPS superintendent Chris Renwick, in justifying the demotion, emphasized the importance of addressing abuse of power and biased actions within the police force.
Renwick expressed concern over the unauthorized inquiries and accessing of protected medical records by Grus, highlighting the potential damage to the OPS’s reputation. Prosecutors advocated for the two-year demotion, citing Grus’s deliberate disregard for rules and oversight in her actions.
The demotion, considered the second most severe disciplinary action after dismissal, will result in a significant financial loss for Grus. Despite attracting support from vaccine skeptics, Grus and her defense team argued that the disciplinary process was retaliatory, although the tribunal found no evidence to support this claim.
The decision to demote Grus was made to uphold the integrity of the police force and emphasize the seriousness of her actions. Renwick criticized the conduct displayed during the hearing, noting a lack of decorum and delays caused by objections and disputes among counsel.