KAWARTHA LAKES-The legal fees for four officers being investigated by the provinces Special Investigations Unit after a recent drowning are almost $12,000 and the investigation isn’t complete.
The Special Investigations Unit invoked its mandate after the body of a 34 year old man was pulled from the Scugog River on September 17th.
City of Kawartha Lakes Police say  at 6:31pm the City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service was contacted by a witness who was concerned about a man in the area of William Street north in Lindsay on September 16th.
When officers arrived to investigate they located a man who allegedly fled north along a walking path that runs parallel to the Scugog River. Officers lost sight of the man as he fled, but witnesses observed the man enter the Scugog River near the area of Colborne Street west.
Officers were not able to determine if the man made his way out of the river and a search for the man was launched on the east and west river banks. The City of Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Service attended with a marine unit to assist and searched the river where the man was last observed.
The OPP Underwater Search and Recovery Unit was called in on September 17th. The man’s body was located at approximately 3:30 pm.
Four witness officers were identified and are being investigated. “As is their right they have legal representation throughout the interview process and that bill came in at $11,916.” Kawartha Lakes Police Chief Mark Mitchell told the Police Services Board on Monday. “It’s frustrating as an organization and i’m sure it’s frustrating for the board.” Mitchel stated. “It’s something on the list for future contract negotiations to try and limit or somehow control those costs but for now it’s a contractual obligation.” The police service is responsible for the bill.
The SIU is an arm’s length agency that investigates reports involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault. Under the Police Services Act, the Director of the SIU must
- consider whether an officer has committed a criminal offence  in connection with the incident under investigation
- depending on the evidence, lay a criminal charge against the officer if appropriate or close the file without any charges being laid
- report the results of any investigations to the Attorney General.
