Deceit charge against Durham's deputy chief withdrawn

Durham Region's deputy police chief is no longer facing a deceit charge after the charge was dropped last month, the region's police service board says.

The decision came last month after the Ontario Civilian Police Commission found a conviction would be unlikely.

Dean Bertrim was charged last year as part of an investigation that began in 2019. The charge was a violation of the police code of conduct and not a criminal one. Neither the board nor the commission elaborated on the reason for the charge at the time.

Last month, the board said while it was pleased with the outcome, it was disappointed by what it called a lack of sufficient evidence for the charge being laid in the first place.

"It raises questions in the community about the integrity of police leadership. In light of the importance of community trust and confidence in the police, the board expected that a careful review of the evidence would have taken place before a charge of this nature was initiated," it said.

When the charge was initially announced, the board stated its support for Betrim to stay on as deputy police chief.

"On balance and consideration of these factors, and in light of Deputy Chief Bertrim's exemplary leadership over the last four years, the board supports his continued functioning in his current role," it said in a statement at the time.

In its most recent statement, the board said the process has negatively hurt the reputation and leadership of the service, adding that it had a "monumental impact" on the "deputy chief personally, and professionally."