Sarnia Police Headquarters on Christina Street. December 6, 2018. (Photo by Colin Gowdy, BlackburnNews)Sarnia Police Headquarters on Christina Street. December 6, 2018. (Photo by Colin Gowdy, BlackburnNews)
Sarnia

Sarnia police chief says lingering workplace harassment dispute resolved

Sarnia's police chief issued a brief statement Thursday afternoon saying a bitter, lingering dispute between the service and a female officer has been resolved.

"The matter has been resolved, and the parties have come to an amicable resolution of the disputes between the parties," the statement from Norm Hansen read.

Cst. John Sottosanti said by mutual agreement there will be no disclosure.

Sgt. McCabe (middle) of the Sarnia Police Service with S/Sgt. Thompson and Sgt. Adams of the Peel Regional Police at the annual Ontario Women in Law Enforcement banquet. May 7, 2018. (Photo by the Sarnia Police Service) Sgt. McCabe (middle) of the Sarnia Police Service with S/Sgt. Thompson and Sgt. Adams of the Peel Regional Police at the annual Ontario Women in Law Enforcement banquet. May 7, 2018. (Photo by the Sarnia Police Service)

Officer Jaime McCabe-Wyville, a 22-year veteran of the service, made allegations of assault and harassment by a fellow police officer.

The matter became public in October of 2020 when demonstrators gathered at a rally at Sarnia police headquarters in support of McCabe-Wyville.

Chief Hansen reported in early February of this year that a third-party investigator, retained by the Sarnia Police Services Board, found no evidence of harassment or workplace violence. Helen Daniel did find evidence, however, of a toxic workplace due to widespread gossip. The full report was not made public.

An investigation of the criminal allegation by Windsor police concluded there'd be no reasonable prospect of conviction.

In March, the police services board approved changes to its policies on member conduct, promotion, workplace human rights, and harassment. Chief Hansen said that some of the recommendations from the Daniel report had already been addressed through policy changes and workplace harassment training.

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