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CTV News
3 days ago
- CTV News
Senior Barrie police officer accused of lying, withholding evidence during OPP Police Services Act Investigation
A longtime Barrie police officer and senior member of the service, Insp. Valarie Gates, is facing allegations she lied to, misled and withheld evidence from the OPP Professional Standards Unit prior to being charged under the Police Services Act. Related | Barrie police inspector faces discreditable conduct charge following OPP investigation What started out as a preliminary investigation to get compromising information on another police officer up for a promotion with the Barrie Police Service, appears to have backfired on Gates, according to documents obtained by CTV News. Gates is currently facing two counts of discreditable conduct under the Police Services Act. She is accused of having misled, lied to, and withheld key evidence from investigators with the OPP Professional Standards Unit (PSU). Investigators were tasked with looking into allegations Gates bullied and harassed other officers by engaging in gossip and insulting language in the workplace and lying about the steps she took four years ago when conducting a promotional competency review. Documents provide insight into the 2023 OPP investigation of Inspector Gates and efforts among Barrie police's highest-ranking officers to assist Gates when she was accused of conducting an inappropriate and unapproved preliminary investigation that involved other officers. Gates, a 27-year police veteran, including 23 years in Barrie, has two Police Services Act hearings scheduled for later this year. She is charged with separate counts of discreditable conduct stemming from what Barrie police said related to 'on-duty, internal' incidents involving other officers. CTV News has reviewed documents outlining what the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Professional Standards Unit discovered when looking into Gates' conduct. The report's conclusion found Gates pressured a fellow officer to provide compromising information on another member of the service. The investigation alleges Gates 'routinely met with' and was being provided guidance by outgoing police chief Kimberley Greenwood, whom Gates, in her own words, referred to as a 'mentor and safe place' to discuss the allegations of misconduct against her. The former chief retired from the service in late 2023, weeks before Gates' husband, Rich Johnston, became Barrie's top cop. CTV News reached out to now-retired Barrie police chief Greenwood, who denied interfering in the OPP investigation of Gates. Greenwood, documents show, declined to participate in the OPP investigation, despite being offered several opportunities to speak with investigators in person, virtually and in the form of pre-determined questions for written responses, Text messages in the report show Greenwood still met with Gates during this time period to discuss the Professional Standards Unit investigation against her in May 2023. Greenwood did not want to take questions from CTV News about the investigation. She told CTV News in a phone conversation, 'As I said, you will speak to members of the Barrie Police Service in regards to this matter.' Greenwood told CTV News she declined to meet with investigators because she was ill at the time. When asked whether she interfered in the investigation by providing guidance to Gates through a series of conversations in person and via text messaging, Greenwood said 'I did not interfere' and 'I advised her to follow up as she been instructed and that is all I'm going to say,' before ending the call. Text messages between Gates and former chief Greenwood indicate a close personal and professional relationship that included Gates visiting Greenwood at her home to have a conversation; all while the two texted about Gates potentially being written up by her superior for failing to notify a supervisor, while conducting a preliminary investigation into another officer's alleged misconduct. Referring to the complaint against her by her superior, Gates told Greenwood 'he knows you will be very upset when you hear and was thinking of driving to your house to tell you.' Greenwood later replied: 'I cut that off immediately.' The OPP determined Greenwood would not entertain a chief's complaint being filed against Gates, and concluded Greenwood 'shut it down.' Text messages revealed Gates had told Greenwood to expect a call from her superior, 'in regards to our discussion that we didn't have on Monday.' Once the OPP reviewed Gates' work phone concerns grew with Gates texting Greenwood: 'Would you possibly be able to meet today … I thought the grievance was cut and dry but the more I find things I think it's not good.' Greenwood agreed to meet, replying: 'I'm available anytime after 12 noon. I'm sorry to hear that is not good.' Greenwood later told Gates: 'Is there anything I can do for you? I was thinking about this all day yesterday.' The OPP Professional Standards Unit investigation concluded that Gates left out several text message conversations with another officer and when questioned about it, Gates could not explain why she failed to provide what investigators considered 'critical evidence.' According to the documents, the OPP Professional Standards Unit substantiated a total of four charges against Gates, two each for neglect of duty and discreditable conduct. It is unclear why, after investigators substantiated the four charges against Gates, she was only charged with one, or who, in fact, made that decision in December 2023. Gates was subsequently charged with the second count of discreditable conduct seven months later. Gates, who remains on active duty, is the head of Barrie Police's Investigative Services. Related | Another discreditable conduct charge laid against Barrie police inspector Her Police Services Act proceedings have been marred by delays with the defence claiming, for months, it required further disclosure from the prosecution. Related | Disclosure still outstanding in Police Services Act proceedings against Barrie officer Barrie Police Service has not commented further on the matter, referring the matter to the OPP. Calls and emails to Gates' legal counsel with questions about this report, have not been returned. Gates' next scheduled Police Services Act appearances are in late August.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Yahoo
Complaint alleges OPD detective seized juvenile's phone without warrant
A complaint has been filed against an Owensboro Police Department detective who witnesses allege seized a cellphone from a juvenile without a warrant Thursday in the Holbrook Judicial Center. Five witnesses, three of whom are unrelated to the juvenile or his court case, gave nearly identical accounts of the incident, which occurred outside courtrooms on the judicial center's third floor Thursday afternoon. The juvenile's public defender, Colin O'Brien, filed a complaint against OPD Sgt. John Preston with OPD's Professional Standards Unit Thursday. 'He literally snatched that phone out of that boy's hand,' said Stephanie Green, who witnessed the incident. 'Even the child said, 'Do you have a warrant?' and his grandmother said, 'Do you have a warrant?' ' Green said. 'He (Preston) was walking away and waving it in the air like, 'ha ha.' ' The Fourth Amendment protects individuals against 'unreasonable search and seizure,' and requires law enforcement to have a search warrant to search homes and seize property under most circumstances. The Supreme Court ruled in 2014 a cellphone can't be searched without a warrant when a person has been arrested. O'Brien said the juvenile was appearing in juvenile court on a 'status offense,' which is an offense only someone under the age of 18 could face. Examples of status offenses are truancy from school, being a runaway or possession of tobacco products by a minor. The juvenile was not in court for any criminal charges, O'Brien said. O'Brien said the juvenile was in the hallway with his grandmother when two detectives, Preston and a second detective, approached and said they wanted to ask the juvenile some questions. The juvenile declined to speak to them, O'Brien said. 'As soon as the first detective asked him if he wanted to talk and (the juvenile) said 'no,' he (Preston) said, 'we are going to be getting a warrant' for the phone, O'brien said. 'Sgt. Preston came up and said, 'We are going to be getting a warrant,' and forcibly took (the phone) out of his hand,' O'Brien said. O'Brien said it appeared that 'Sgt. Preston (was) getting (angry) when the kid said he wouldn't talk to them.' O'Brien said Preston gave his name when asked. Liz Webb, who is not related to the juvenile or his case, said she heard several people question Preston about whether he had a warrant to take the phone. When the juvenile refused to talk to the two detectives, Webb said the first detective started walking away, and that Preston took the phone from the juvenile. 'When he was walking down the hall, he lifted it up and said, 'I'm seizing it without' (a warrant,)' Webb said. Kyle Webb, who also saw the incident, said the unnamed detective was 'very professional,' but that Preston was 'very aggressive.' 'The juvenile had the phone in his hand. He was trying to call somebody,' Kyle Webb said. 'The detective overpowered him.' Kyle Webb said he heard Preston say detectives were going to get a warrant to seize the phone before Preston took it from the juvenile. The detective identified as Preston was 'kind of 'in your face, I've got your stuff now,' ' Kyle Webb said. Patti Cox-Young, the juvenile's grandmother, was with the juvenile, and said his status case was dismissed by the court. The detectives said they wanted 'to talk to him concerning something his name had come up in, and he said, 'I don't want to talk,' ' Cox-Young said. 'He was cooperating, but he just didn't want to talk,' Cox-Young said. After taking the phone away, Preston left with the phone, Cox-Young said. 'I'm a very firm believer in the Constitution,' Cox-Young said and that, 'They trampled' on the juvenile's rights. JD Winkler, deputy chief of police, said a professional standards unit complaint had been filed with OPD in relation to the incident, but that he could not comment further. The Professional Standards Unit investigates complaints made against officers, and sends substantiated complaints to Police Chief Art Ealum for possible disciplinary action. Preston told the Messenger-Inquirer Friday morning, 'We're actively investigating a juvenile crime. I can't speak on that.' When the Messenger-Inquirer clarified that Preston wasn't being asked about any specific investigation but about the seizure of the cell phone, Preston referred comment to Mark Hammonds, OPD's public information officer. The department would not be discussing the incident, Hammonds said. 'I spoke to the major above me, and he advised me there is an ongoing investigation, so OPD will not be giving out any details or making any statements in regard to that investigation,' Hammonds said.
