A senior Ottawa police officer has been fired amid an ongoing investigation into misconduct, CBC News has learned.
Supt. Mark Patterson was stopped on Wednesday, according to an email sent by interim police chief Steve Bell to the CBC.
“We take this very seriously and the issue is being fully investigated by the Professional Standards Unit,” Bell said in an email.
Ottawa police will not comment on the nature of the allegations, nor disclose the scope of the officers’ investigation, but sources say it includes a number of complainants.
Patterson was a senior public figure, sometimes responsible for recruitment, intelligence, and major police incidents. (CBC)
At the time of his removal, Patterson was head of the intelligence department and oversaw units such as intelligence and surveillance. He had previously been a senior public figure in charge of recruiting new cops.
Patterson served as one of the commanders of the incident during the weeks-long occupation of the Freedom Convoy earlier this year, before being removed by then-Chief Peter Sloley.
“As the investigation continues, it is important that we respect the process and wait for the findings before drawing any conclusions,” Bell said in an email. “Wellness support is being introduced for those involved in this investigation.”
Patterson’s removal came on the same day that he had to rule on a disciplinary case in an unrelated case of misconduct. Patterson is a disciplinary officer and has ruled on misconduct.
The other appearance was canceled on Wednesday morning. Patterson was removed at about the same time.
Ottawa police began investigating the alleged misconduct themselves, but have since asked Ontario police to take over the investigation. Forces usually require external police agencies to investigate high-ranking officers for transparency and accountability.
Patterson’s removal comes with a fee.
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