‘It’s a stunning development,’ Sarnia police chief suspended for workplace harassment investigation

Sarnia Police Chief Derek Davis has been suspended by the SPSB following a workplace harassment complaint. CTV’s Bryan Bicknell reports.

Sarnia Police Chief Derek Davis has been suspended with pay as the Sarnia Police Service Board launches an independent investigation into a workplace harassment complaint against him.

In a news release Tuesday, the board said the suspension takes effect immediately and is a standard administrative measure pending the outcome of the investigation.

“Effective immediately, Chief Davis has been suspended with pay pending the outcome of the investigation. This suspension is a standard administrative procedure to ensure a fair, transparent, and unbiased investigative process and does not imply any determination of wrongdoing,” the board said in part.

Mayor Mike Bradley called the development “stunning,” adding he learned of the investigation at the same time as the public.

Davis, who previously served with the Halton Regional Police Service, was appointed Sarnia’s police chief in 2022, while Bradley was a member of the board. The mayor stepped down three years ago.

“I ironically left the police board because I did not like the spending and the attitude of the new chief at that time, who now is being suspended. However, he’s entitled to a fair process, and we’ll see that unfold,” Bradley said.

Last year, Davis and the police board advocated for a new $90-million police headquarters. The project was approved by city council but later vetoed by Bradley using strong-mayor powers.

In April, Davis filed a $1.5-million defamation lawsuit against the owner of the Sarnia Journal, an independent news outlet that had been publicly critical of him. The police board is covering his legal costs with public funds.

Earlier this year, Davis’s contract was extended to 2032. Meanwhile, the Sarnia Police Association — representing about 230 uniformed and civilian members — has been without a contract since mid-2023.

Bradley said the situation has affected morale within the service.

“I hear almost daily from officers and civilians about morale, or lack of it. It’s been a very top-down administration. Almost like a 1950s-60s style administration. Not taking into account modern policing, and how you deal with your employees, and how you deal with issues, many issues they have. They have been sitting without a contract for a number of years, and that’s not a good sign of labour relations,” Bradley said.

CTV News reached out to Davis who said it’s too early to comment on the investigation, and he doesn’t yet know the details of the complaint, himself.

In the meantime, the police board did not disclose the nature of the complaint, and said it would not provide comment.

Board Chair Kelly Ash told CTV News in an email, “we are in the midst of obtaining a commitment with a workplace investigation law firm.”

Sarnia Deputy Police Chief Michael VanSickle has assumed the role of acting chief during the investigation.