The Barrie Police Service (BPS) is the police service of the city of Barrie, Ontario, Canada. It is made up of 238 police personnel and 109 civilians that serve[1] a population of 135,711, as of 2011, in an area covering 100.71 km2 (38.88 sq mi).
The chief of police is the highest-ranking officer of the Barrie Police Service. The current chief is Rich Johnston.
History
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2011)
In 2008 a senior police inspector in charge of the Barrie Police Service Professional Standards Branch was relieved of his duties after emailing a racist joke to colleagues.[4][5]
In 2009 an attempted obstruction of justice was reported after senior Barrie Police Service officials initially failed to disclose and then subsequently refused to disclose the existence of criminal charges against one of their constables, which included, drug possession and trafficking, cocaine use while on duty, theft (stealing money and phone cards from an evidence bag), and obstruction of justice.[6][7]
In 2010 a Barrie police constable, Jason Nevill, assaulted and arrested a man under false charges. After the incident was caught on a security camera and caused public outcry, he was later found guilty of causing bodily harm, unlawful use of authority and obstruction of evidence.[8] Following a one-year jail sentence, Nevill resigned from the police force.[9]
In 2021 the Ontario Provincial Police opened an investigation into the violent arrest of a 20-year-old skateboarder by Barrie police officers after video of the incident was shared on social media.[10]