A Peel Regional Police detective with 30 years experience is facing child pornography-related charges.
In a release issued Wednesday night, Peel police said that an investigation was ordered into an allegation of fraudulent activity involving an officer in April 2015 following a complaint.
As a result of the investigation, police arrested a suspect Wednesday morning.
“I take these allegations very seriously,” Peel police Chief Jennifer Evans said in Wednesday night's release.
“The officer has been suspended with pay in accordance with the current legislation under the Police Services Act. As a police service there will be difficult days ahead but these allegations should not detract from the great work that is done on a daily basis by the other members of this police service.”
Det. Craig Wattier faces five charges, including accessing child pornography, possession of child pornography, and two counts of fraud over $5,000.
“At the time, he was (the) supervisor assigned to the Technical Crimes Unit,” Peel police Staff Sgt. Dan Richardson told CP24 Wednesday night.
He is being held in custody pending a bail hearing in Brampton Thursday.
“The matter is now before the courts,” Richardson said.
“This is an ongoing investigation – I don’t want to say anything that would jeopardize the integrity of the investigation.”
