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A police officer in London, Ont., has been suspended after a video showed members entering an unmarked police vehicle with alcohol visible inside and a service-issued firearm stored in what the force’s chief called concerning circumstances.
In a statement issued Monday night, London police Chief Thai Truong said the matter has been reported to the Toronto Police Service for a criminal investigation into the handling and storage of the firearm.
He said the incident happened June 24 in Toronto as officers left a restaurant following a police funeral. Truong said he was made aware of the video late Monday afternoon and personally viewed it before taking action.
“The video shows those members leaving a restaurant and entering an unmarked police vehicle, with alcohol visible inside,” Truong said in a statement.
Truong said the video also shows a service-issued firearm stored in “circumstances that raise concerns.”
He said he directed that the matter be reported to Toronto police, which will investigate the circumstances surrounding the handling and storage of the firearm.
The funeral was for Toronto police Const. Marc Pinizzotto, who was fatally shot while investigating multiple shootings, including an incident at the U.S. Consulate.
One senior London police officer has been suspended with pay pending further investigation. The identity of the officer was not released.
Truong said the decision to suspend the officer with pay reflects the legal requirements governing police suspensions.
“At this stage of the investigation, the statutory criteria under the Community Safety and Policing Act that would permit me to suspend the officer without pay have not been met,” he said.
He emphasized that the suspension is not a finding of criminal or professional misconduct.
Once the criminal investigation is complete, Truong said LPS will investigate the overall conduct of the members involved under the Community Safety and Policing Act.
He said police officers are expected to conduct themselves in a way that maintains public confidence, particularly those in leadership positions.
“Those expectations apply to every member of our Service and are especially important for those entrusted with leadership responsibilities,” Truong said.
Truong declined to provide further details about the video or the firearm, saying he did not want to compromise the investigations.
He said London police will provide additional information when appropriate.