The province’s independent Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) has laid two charges against a member of the Cape Breton Regional Police Service.
SiRT was contacted on January 8, 2023, by the Cape Breton Regional Police concerning an allegation made by a member of the public in relation to a breach of undertaking by one of its members.
On January 10, 2023, SiRT was contact by a member of the public in relation to a driving complaint regarding the same officer. Both allegations involved Constable Lawrence Doucette of the Cape Breton Regional Police Service.
Constable Doucette will face one count of Breach of an Undertaking and one count of Careless and Imprudent Driving under the Motor Vehicle Act. Cst. Doucette is scheduled to appear in Sydney Provincial Court at 9:30 a.m. on October 5 and 6, 2023, respectively.
The Serious Incident Response Team is responsible for investigating all serious incidents involving police in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The team can independently begin an investigation after a referral from a chief of police, the head of the RCMP in New Brunswick or Nova Scotia or the Minister of Justice of each province. It can also investigate after a complaint from the public.
The Police Act requires the director to file a public report summarizing the result of the investigation within three months after it is finished.