Professional Standards Branch

The Professional Standards Branch (PSB) is responsible for investigating complaints made about an employee of the London Police Service. This Branch is staffed by highly experienced officers who have been specially trained to investigate these types of complaints.

PSB investigations of this type generally arise from one of three sources:

• The Law Enforcement Complaints Agency (LECA) – LECA receives, manages and oversees all complaints about police in Ontario. At times, it will request the PSB to investigate a complaint it has received regarding a LPS officer. For more information, visit the LECA website.
• Internal complaint or Chief’s Complaint – this is a complaint that is initiated by the chief or another internal source. Complaints can range from allegations of misconduct during the execution of police duties, to employment-related complaints such as harassment or the conduct of employees off duty.
• Special Investigations Unit (SIU) – The PSB will assist the SIU with its initial investigation by providing the requested disclosure and scheduling required interviews. Once the SIU has completed its investigation into an incident in which it invoked its mandate, the PSB investigates to determine if there was any misconduct by the involved officer or if there were any procedural breaches.

The majority of PSB investigations focus on allegations of misconduct, as defined by the Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA)and the police Code of Conduct defined in Ontario Regulation 407/23. Examples of misconduct include any activity that would undermine the public trust in police, such as failing to perform a required duty, conducting an unlawful arrest or the use of excessive force.

LPS civilian personnel are also accountable for their behaviour and are subject to investigations by the PSB for alleged breaches of conduct. 

For information on how to make a complaint about the London Police Service or a service member, visit the submit feedback section.

Formal vs Informal discipline

Each investigation is reviewed by the Complaints Officer who then makes a final decision on whether or not the allegation is substantiated. If misconduct is substantiated, the Complaints Officer then decides if the matter will be dealt with by way of formal or informal discipline.

A range of penalties exist for informal discipline matters. Counselling and guidance may be considered for less serious matters while forfeiture of leave may be considered for more serious matters. 

The Disciplinary Hearing

If the Complaints Officer determines the misconduct is substantiated and may potentially result in a demotion or termination of employment, a Disciplinary Hearing will be held before the Ontario Police Arbitration and Adjudication Commission (OPAAC). A hearing is a public, quasi-judicial process during which an adjudicator appointed by the OPAAC must decide if the allegations of misconduct have been proven on clear and convincing evidence. If an officer is found guilty by the adjudicator, there are a range of penalties that may be imposed ranging from reprimand to dismissal.

Notice of hearings involving LPS officers are posted on the website calendar.

Complaints related to LPS Procedures or Service Delivery

Pursuant to Part VII of the CSPA, the Inspectorate of Policing was created to oversee police services and police service boards throughout the Province of Ontario.  As an independent police oversight body, their mandate includes both the responsibility for ensuring the adequate and effective delivery of police service across the province and investigating any allegations of misconduct involving members of a police services board.

For more information on the Inspectorate of Policing or to make a complaint about police service delivery or allegations of police board member misconduct, please visit the Inspectorate of Policing website.