Sarnia’s police chief, currently suspended from duty, is under scrutiny in a criminal investigation prompted by allegations raised by a local business owner and former city councillor. The Ontario Inspectorate of Policing forwarded the complaint to York Regional Police due to suspicions of potential criminal misconduct. York Regional Police confirmed an active criminal investigation is underway but declined to disclose further specifics.
The investigation was initiated following a complaint submitted by Nathan Colquhoun earlier this year, highlighting concerns about Chief Derek Davis’ hiring practices and personal consulting engagements. Colquhoun, the proprietor and columnist for The Sarnia Journal, mentioned that the complaint also accused Davis of misusing public resources by sending libel notices to the Journal. Earlier, Davis had initiated and later retracted a $1.5 million defamation lawsuit against Colquhoun and his media company.
Chief Davis, appointed in 2022, had been placed on paid suspension in May while an external law firm probed allegations of workplace harassment. Despite attempts to contact Davis for his input, he could not be reached for comment. Kelly Ash, chair of the Sarnia Police Services Board, acknowledged the public’s concerns but refrained from commenting on the ongoing criminal investigation.
Efforts have been made to obtain a copy of the complaint and supporting documents from Colquhoun. In the interim, former Toronto Deputy Police Chief Mike Federico is overseeing the Sarnia police service as the acting chief during Davis’ suspension.