Journal staff The Sarnia Police Service has issued a statement following the voluntary resignation of one of its officers last week. Police say Jeremy Wilde resigned from the Sarnia Police Service (SPS) effective Sept.
Journal staff
The Sarnia Police Service has issued a statement following the voluntary resignation of one of its officers last week.
Police say Jeremy Wilde resigned from the Sarnia Police Service (SPS) effective Sept. 29, 2023, and is no longer a police officer or employed by the service in any capacity.
Wilde had been suspended with pay since Oct 11, 2022 for “internal disciplinary matters not involving members of the public,” Sarnia Police stated in a news release.
During his absence from the workplace, he was charged by Lambton OPP for several off duty criminal offences not related to his employment as a police officer.
He was placed under a further suspension (with pay) and an internal SPS investigation into those matters was conducted pursuant to the provisions of the Police Service Act (PSA), police added.
During his period of suspension, a disciplinary PSA hearing process was initiated.
The PSA requires that a hearing process occur prior to any penalty that may impact an officer’s employment status. His first appearance on these matters was held on March 22, 2023.
The process was then paused pending the outcome of the off duty criminal matters.
On July 26, 2023, Wilde pleaded guilty to four criminal offences in the Ontario Court of Justice. These convictions resulted in further and immediate PSA investigative steps, including the recommencement of the PSA hearing process.
The next scheduled hearing date was Oct 1, 2023.
“Following his irrevocable resignation effective September 29, 2023, all Police Services Act charges were stayed due to a loss of jurisdiction (no longer a police officer),” Sarnia Police added.
“We acknowledge and understand that circumstances such as this are of serious concern to the public,” Chief Derek Davis stated. “Our hard working and professional members, who continue to serve our community every hour of every day, share these same concerns.
“Our organization remains committed to addressing disciplinary matters in an expedient and appropriate manner, within the permitted framework of the Police Services Act.”
