Police board chair explains silence as criminal probe into suspended chief continues

Sarnia Police Service Board Chair Kelly Ash has issued a statement explaining the board’s public silence amid workplace and criminal investigations involving suspended Chief Derek Davis, citing legal limits and the need to protect due process.

Sarnia Police Service Board Chair Kelly Ash has released a detailed statement acknowledging community frustration over the board’s public silence while workplace and criminal investigations involving suspended Chief Derek Davis continue. She cites strict legal limits under the Community Safety and Policing Act and the need to protect due process.

The letter arrives in the wake of confirmation that a public complaint against Davis, originally filed with the Law Enforcement Complaints Agency (LECA), is now the subject of a criminal investigation. LECA suspended its own process after learning of the criminal probe in late July. Davis remains suspended with pay pending a separate independent workplace harassment investigation; Deputy Chief Ron Hansen and a civilian member are also under suspension.

In the statement, Ash writes that the board’s thoughts are with the community “during this difficult time” and that it understands “the frustration many people are feeling.” She notes it is natural for people to seek answers, clarity and open dialogue when investigations occur inside a public institution.

“However, the most responsible course of action available to us is to protect the integrity of the ongoing process, even when that requires a difficult period of public silence,” Ash states. She says the board would “like nothing more than to provide certainty” but is bound by legal requirements that limit what can be discussed during active investigations and proceedings.

Under headings addressing “The Human Cost of Remaining Silent” and “The Cost of Division and Misinformation,” the letter describes the strain on people, families and colleagues in a close-knit community, the risk that speculation fills the void, and the potential loss of empathy when serious matters become public debate before facts are known. Ash warns that premature disclosure or discussion of unverified allegations could compromise fairness, independence and investigators’ ability to reach evidence-based conclusions.

A section titled “Why Respecting Due Process Matters” states that silence should not be read as indifference. It reflects a commitment to processes that are “fair, impartial, and grounded in evidence,” free from outside influence, political considerations, public pressure or social media commentary. The board says it remains committed to transparency wherever possible while meeting its legal obligations and safeguarding the integrity of the processes underway.

The statement is signed by Kelly Ash as chair of the Sarnia Police Service Board.

Chief Davis was first suspended in May after a workplace harassment complaint. The board later expanded suspensions and brought in former Toronto deputy chief Mike Federico as interim chief. The criminal investigation emerged while LECA was examining a public complaint against Davis. That complaint included concerns about Davis’s private consulting interests and related hiring decisions. The precise scope of the criminal investigation has not been made public.