Thunder Bay police officer charged in property theft case, court documents show

Thunder Bay police Const.Peter Ritchie has been charged with stealing andbreach of trust, CBC has learned.

According to court documents obtained by CBC, property was stolen this July. Ritchiewas arrested on Oct. 10.

Ritchie faces charges of theft of property valued at $5,000 or less, as well as breach of trust.

None of the allegations have been tested in court.

Ritchie was sworn in as a Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS)constable in April 2019, according to the service's Facebook post. Ontario's sunshine list shows Ritchie was paid $114,627 in 2022 as a first-class constable.

Police say officer charged was suspended with pay

The day after Ritchie was arrested, TBPS announced an officer with the TBPS had been criminally charged with theft under $5,000 and breach of trust.

The officer facing charges was not been named in the release, but there is only one current officer with that combination of charges before the courts, confirmed a TBPS spokespersonin an email to CBC News.

It conducted an internal investigation after receiving a complaint, said a news release the police service issued about the charges late Friday afternoon.

"The officer has been suspended with pay in accordance with legislation. As this matter is now before the court, the Thunder Bay Police Service is unable to provide further comment or information," a news release said.

"Maintaining public confidence is a top priority and I thank those who displayed the courage to speak out," saidChief Darcy Fleury in the release.

TBPS facing other scrutiny

The charges against Ritchie come amid stepped-up scrutiny of the TBPS.

Last week, Ontario's inspector general of policing announced he would evaluate how the TBPS conducts death and missing-person investigations, and its compliance wit the province's policing legislation.

Multiple other officers have also been criminally charged, for reasons other than those involving Ritchie.

Constables Taylor Auger, RyanDougherty,Andrew FrankowandMichael Moorewere charged with assault causing bodily harm in separate incidents in 2023 and 2024.

Staff Sgt. Michael Diminiis scheduled to go to trial in 2025 for assault, breach of trust and obstruction of justice charges.

Former police chief Sylvie Hauthandex-Thunder Bay police lawyer Holly Walbournewere charged with multiple obstruction and breach of trust offences in April 2024. Both matters will be back in court next week.