Ottawa police superintendent facing 3 counts of discreditable conduct

Ottawa Police sign outside headquarters on Elgin St. in Ottawa. (CTV News Ottawa)

An Ottawa police superintendent is facing three discreditable conduct charges under the Police Services Act, five months after sexual assault charges were withdrawn by the Crown.

Supt. Mark Patterson made an appearance before a disciplinary hearing on Thursday, where he was charged with three counts of discreditable conduct.

The first count alleges Patterson used his position to “inappropriately influence the Ottawa Police Service recruitment process.” The second count alleges he entered into an “unprofessional intimate relationship with a candidate participating in the Ottawa Police Service recruitment process.” According to the notice of disciplinary hearing, the third count of discreditable conduct alleges he engaged “in a sexual act with a member of the public without her consent.”

The notice alleges incidents occurred between December 2018 and June 2022.

“He maintains that he is not guilty of any misconduct and he is confident that these allegations will be dismissed,” Mark Ertel, Patterson’s lawyer, said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa.

“To otherwise comment on the case at this point would not be appropriate as the case is still before the tribunal.”

Patterson has been suspended from duty since June 2022.

Ontario Provincial Police charged Patterson in December 2022 with sexual assault, sexual assault committed in a position of trust, power or authority, and breach of trust. The charges stemmed from alleged incidents involving one complainant between December 2018 and May 2022, police said.

In June, the Crown requested the charges be withdrawn.

Police told CTV News Ottawa in June that the Police Services Act investigation was “still outstanding.”