Menu

Serious Incident Response Team

police car flashing lights in the night selective focus

Bathurst police officer facing criminal charges

,

An investigation by the Serious Incident Response Team has led to charges against a member of the Bathurst Police Force.

According to a release, the Bathurst Police Force contacted SiRT on May 27, 2025, regarding an allegation an officer was harassing a former intimate partner.

A second incident was referred to SiRT on June 27, 2025, and a third on June 28, 2025.

Both were related to the initial referral.

SiRT’s statement said the third incident was to referred to them by the RCMP. Due to the nature of the allegations in that case, SiRT asked the RCMP to conduct that investigation while they provided oversight and review.

After the completion of the investigations, a constable with the Bathurst Police Force was charged on April 7.

He’s facing charges of criminal harassment, being unlawfully in a dwelling house, uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, harassment by making repeated communications by way of telecommunication and breach of trust of a public office.

All the offences are alleged to have occurred between Nov. 1, 2022, and May 26, 2025.

The officer will appear in Bathurst provincial court on June 29.

SiRT is responsible for investigating all matters that involve death, serious injury, sexual assault and intimate partner violence or other matters of a public interest that may have arisen from the actions of a police officer, on or off duty, in Nova Scotia or New Brunswick.

Investigations are under the direction and control of an independent civilian director, who has the sole authority to determine if charges should be laid at the conclusion of an investigation.

sirt

SIRT finds no grounds to charge Moncton RCMP officer

,

An investigation by the Serious Incident Response Team found no reasonable grounds to charge an RCMP officer with a crime.

The investigation arose from an incident where the officer discharged a firearm while responding to a call in Moncton last fall.

It resulted in the death of a suspect.

Police were responding to a report of a robbery at a bank in Moncton on Sept. 27.

Following the robbery, the suspect fled on foot toward a residential area.

According to the SIRT report, the man tried to steal an occupied vehicle at gunpoint, but was unsuccessful and shot at another vehicle.

He continued on foot and broke into a home, pointing his gun at the occupant.

The occupant escaped unharmed.

RCMP officers found the man in the house and ordered him to co-operate.

It appeared the man was complying, but he ran back into the house and fired two shots toward an officer.

The man remained in the house for more than an hour, calling 911 several times, before setting the house and a vehicle on fire and fleeing out the back door.

Multiple officers told the man to stop at that point, but he refused, pointing his gun at officers.

He tried to break in to another home but was unsuccessful.

The SIRT report said the man was “looking for something in his pants and threatened to kill officers.”

The suspect turned around, arms raised, and pointed a gun at officers.

One officer fired three rounds from a carbine rifle, killing the suspect.

SiRT is responsible for investigating all matters that involve death, serious injury, sexual assault and intimate partner violence or other matters of a public interest that may have arisen from the actions of any police officer in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

saint-john-police-force-car

Assault charges laid against Saint John police officer

, , , ,

A Saint John police officer is facing assault charges following an investigation by the Serious Incident Response Team

In a press release issued Thursday morning, the Saint John Police Force said the officer has been charged with assault causing bodily harm and assault with a weapon.

In July 10, the Saint John police contacted the SiRT regarding the alleged force used by one of their officers during an arrest that took place on July 5.

According to the release, officers were responding to a motor vehicle collision on the Harbour Bridge when one of the vehicles involved fled the scene. A brief pursuit followed, ending in the Main Street North area.

The adult male driver was taken into custody, with several officers involved in the arrest. The Saint John police said the man sustained injuries and was taken to hospital afterward.

In a separate release issued Thursday, SiRT said it initially determined in August that the case did not meet its mandate after receiving additional information from police.

However, in early November, the New Brunswick Public Prosecution Services independently referred the incident to SiRT due to concerns about the officer’s alleged use of force. SiRT then launched a formal investigation.

Saint John police said the officer has since been reassigned to administrative duties pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings. A Police Act investigation will follow once the court process concludes.

The officer is scheduled to appear in Saint John provincial court on June 15, according to SiRT.

sirt

SiRT requests more info after charges laid against Grand Falls officer

, ,

The Serious Incident Response Team is now looking for additional information after the arrest of a Grand Falls Police officer.

Constable Paul Lavoie is facing several child sex related charges, including making sexually explicit material available to a child, child luring and breach of trust.

He was charged on February 10 and is scheduled to return to Edmundston court on April 7.

RELATED: SiRT charges Grand Falls officer in minor-related case

The request from SiRT comes after many online comments about the arrest.

Anyone with details or concerns related to this officer is asked to contact the Serious Incident Response Team by phone or email at sirt.tips@novascotia.ca or by calling 1-855-450-2010.

Police lights by night

SiRT charges Grand Falls officer in minor-related case

A Grand Falls Police officer is facing several criminal charges after an investigation by the Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT).

Grand Falls police contacted SiRT on March 31, 2025, after receiving information that suggested the officer had engaged in inappropriate contact with a minor.

The investigation led to charges laid on Tuesday, according to SiRT.

The offences are alleged to have occurred between Feb. 10 and March 22, 2025.

SiRT lists the following charges:

  • making sexually explicit material available to a child under the age of 18 years
  • making sexually explicit material available to a child under the age of 16 years
  • luring a child under the age of 18
  • luring a child under the age of 16
  • breach of trust by a public officer

The officer is scheduled to appear in Edmundston provincial court on April 7.

Police Vehicle Lights

UPD: SiRT investigating police‑involved shooting at Tobique First Nation

, , ,

The Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) says it is still collecting information after being called to investigate a police‑involved shooting on Tobique (Neqotkuk) First Nation.

SiRT stated that the RCMP contacted them on Sunday evening and assumed responsibility for the investigation immediately. The agency said investigators are on scene.

Preliminary information suggests officers were called to a residence about a domestic disturbance, according to SiRT.

The agency said officers found a man inside who had a weapon.

SiRT said a Conductive Energy Weapon (Taser) was deployed but was ineffective, and another officer then fired their service weapon, striking the man.

He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

RCMP reported on social media Sunday just after 6:30 p.m. that officers were engaged in a “police operation” at the First Nation and asked the public to avoid the area.

Neqotkuk Chief Ross Perley and council issued a statement Sunday, announcing the death of community member Bronson Paul.

According to the statement, council is still trying to determine the circumstances that led to Paul’s death.

“We know that there was a call to 911,” the statement said. “There was no request for assistance from the police to our tribal security members, council or outreach team.”

The statement said that this type of assistance has helped de-escalate similar situations in the past.

“We are unsure why lethal force was used in this case; however, Bronson is another Indigenous man who was killed in the hands of the police, along with Rodney Levi, Chantel Moore and Steven (Iggy) Dedam.”

Chantel Moore was killed by a member of the Edmundston Police Force outside her residence on June 4, 2020.

Rodney Levi was shot and killed by an RCMP officer southwest of Miramichi on June 12, 2020.

Steven Dedam was killed by a member of the RCMP at Elsipogtog First Nation on September 8, 2024.

Chief and council immediately closed the RCMP detachment in Neqotkuk “until we know that it is safe for our community members.”

Members of the community will still be able to call 911, but the statement said any police presence will require a Kinap security escort.

“We understand that our community members are angry, confused, scared and shocked,” the statement said. “We share that sentiment with all of our community members.”

Mental wellness services will be available for the foreseeable future at the Paul Pyres Building.

Youth mental health support will be available at the Tobique Youth Centre starting Monday.

Mah-Sos School, Andover Elementary, Perth-Andover Middle School and Southern Victoria High School will also have support for youth beginning Monday.

sirt

SIRT investigating after injury during arrest in Miramichi

,

The Serious Incident Response Team is investigating a serious injury sustained during an arrest in Miramichi.

An early report from SiRT said members of the Miramichi Police Force responded to a call at a gas station on Nelson Street. The call related to an adult woman in a vehicle who refused to leave the pumps.

An officer approached the vehicle to speak with the woman, but she refused and was arrested for obstruction.

The woman wouldn’t comply with the officers and was removed from her vehicle, handcuffed and placed in a police vehicle.

The woman was assessed by paramedics at Miramichi Police Force cells for a wrist injury and was later taken by an officer to a Horizon Health Network facility due to concerns about her mental health.

The woman was ultimately diagnosed with a fractured wrist.

When Miramichi Police became aware of the seriousness of the injury, they referred the case to SiRT.

SiRT is responsible for investigating all matters that involve death, serious injury, sexual assault and intimate partner violence or other matters of a public interest that may have arisen from the actions of any police officer, on or off duty, in Nova Scotia or New Brunswick. Investigations are under the direction and control of an independent civilian director, who has the sole authority to determine if charges should be laid at the conclusion of an investigation.

sirt

SiRT investigating Saint John officer after July arrest

,

The Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) is investigating the conduct of a Saint John police officer.

SiRT said the incident happened on July 5, when officers tried to stop a man who had fled the scene of a crash, was driving dangerously, and nearly struck an officer who was outside their vehicle.

Police said the man’s vehicle became disabled on Main Street North in Saint John, where multiple officers arrested him.

The man suffered serious injuries to his eye and ribs, according to SiRT.

The Saint John Police Force and New Brunswick Public Prosecution Services referred the matter to SiRT because of concerns about the use of force and the actions of one officer.

SiRT said it has taken preliminary steps and has now assumed responsibility for the investigation due to the seriousness of the injuries.