Matthew Cox, president of the Ottawa Police Association, is currently being investigated by Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) regarding a sexual assault allegation from 2008.

SIU Investigation Confirmed

The Ottawa Police Association confirmed the investigation in an April 17 email from its board of directors. The board emphasized that the allegation is unrelated to Cox’s role as union president and that he will continue in his position during the SIU probe.

Presumption of Innocence

The union’s statement stressed the importance of allowing the investigation to proceed independently and highlighted the principle of presumption of innocence until its completion. No charges have been filed against Cox at this time.

Police Service Response

The Ottawa Police Service reported the historical allegation to the SIU on March 24 and has deferred further comment to the watchdog agency. The SIU will determine if criminal charges are warranted.

Broader Scrutiny

This investigation occurs amidst increased scrutiny of the Ottawa Police Service. A separate recent case involved an officer accused of conducting unauthorized database searches involving women and colleagues.

CBC Ottawa senior writer Kristy Nease reported on this story and can be reached at kristy.nease@cbc.ca or 613-288-6435. A secure contact option is also available at kristyneasecbc@proton.me.