Former police officer sentenced for possession of child sexual abuse and exploitation material

A former police officer was sentenced after he was found guilty of possession of child sexual exploitation and abuse materials. CTV’s Krista Simpson reports.

This story contains disturbing details about child sexual abuse and exploitation material

A former Waterloo Regional Police Service constable has been sentenced to 18 months behind bars after he was found guilty of possessing child sexual abuse and exploitation material (CSAEM).

Charges referring to “child sexual abuse and exploitation material” formerly used the term “child pornography”

The material was discovered when the Ontario Provincial Police searched Matthew Kennedy’s home in Exeter, Ont. after they received a tip from the National Centre for Missing an Exploited Children.

Kennedy, who was 37-years-old at the time, had already been suspended from the Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) after he refused to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

Police seized a phone and laptop, leading to the discovery of 287 images that met the definition for CSAEM.

Kennedy admitted to accessing and sharing those materials. He was found guilty in a court in Goderich after an accelerated trial in May 2026.

“The images depicted real children being horrifically abused,” Justice Heather Palin told court during sentencing the following month.

The images were of females ranging in age from infants to 16-years-old. They included pictures showing sex acts with adult males or animals.

Justice Palin noted Kennedy’s actions were a “deep betrayal” of the trust placed in him as a police officer.

“Mr. Kennedy, as a trained and sworn police officer breached the wider public trust in a very real way when he accessed and possessed child abuse and exploitation materials. The public is entitled to expect police officers, even those who may be on leave, to uphold the law and guard against the abuse and exploitation of children, society’s most vulnerable group,” Palin told court.

Kennedy resigned from WRPS in November 2023. Court heard he has since been working as a package delivery driver.

The judge said she believes Kennedy “has a sincere desire to address his behaviour and decision making,” noting he’s gone through extensive counselling and has expressed remorse.

Kennedy’s sentence of 18 months in jail will be followed by two years of probation.

Still, the judge said, “In my view, Mr. Kennedy continues to pose a serious risk to young children, particularly through the use of technology.”

Palin put a long list of conditions on Kennedy, which will in place for 20 years. Among them, he cannot work or volunteer in any capacity that involves being in a position of trust or authority over children under the age of 16.

He also has a number of restrictions on his internet use, including a ban from accessing social media.

Palin noted Kennedy has the support of his spouse, family and members of the community, saying there are reasons to be hopeful given the path he’s now on.

“I sincerely hope that your experiences over the past several years have helped you see, number one, how much you have people who care about you in your life. And number two, that you can make better choices.”