In light of two Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers being investigated and charged with sexual assault offences in mid-August, Acting Chief Super. Coyer Yateman, Regional Commander of Central Region for OPP, has spoken out. “The OPP acknowledges the significance of the recent charges laid against members of the Southern Georgian Bay Detachment. We recognize the seriousness of these reports and understand the impact they may have,” said Yateman. “Our communities place a great deal of trust in the OPP, and incidents such as these can challenge that trust.” Yateman is referring to two Special Investigations Unit (SIU) investigations concerning two officers at the Southern Georgian Bay OPP detachment. August 17, the SIU announced Southern Georgian Bay OPP Const. Zahid Javed was facing three counts of sexual assault and three counts of breach of trust. The charges stem from allegations involving three women and incidents the SIU says took place between August 2024 and October 2025. The probe began after police contacted the SIU on Feb. 6, 2026, regarding an allegation of sexual assault involving an officer and a woman. While investigating that allegation, the SIU said it learned of separate alleged incidents involving two additional women. A second SIU investigation into the conduct of OPP Sgt. Blake Hamilton at the same detachment, led SIU director Joseph Martino to approve charges against Hamilton. Martino found he had reasonable grounds to believe that Hamilton committed criminal offences in December 2025 against a woman in Tay Township. The SIU was made aware of the allegations by the OPP on February 24. As a result of that SIU investigation, Hamilton faces two counts of sexual assault and two counts of breach of trust. Yateman said accountability and integrity are fundamental to maintaining public confidence in a police service. “The OPP remains committed to these principles. Police officers are necessarily held to a higher standard due to the authorities granted to them. When concerns are raised about the conduct of our employees, they are taken seriously and thoroughly investigated. No member of our organization is above the law,” said Yateman. As the matter is before the courts, the OPP cannot release details or evidence related to the cases. “We will continue to respect the independence of both the judicial process and the Special Investigations Unit’s mandate,” he said.
