Public Complaints and Oversight

LECA receives, manages and oversees all public complaints about police in Ontario. LECA is a civilian oversight agency independent and separate from the government, the police and the public. The LECA set the standards and procedures for the way public complaints are handled to ensure that they are effective, accountable, and fair to both the public and the police. Before commencing a review, the Complaints Director will notify the Inspector General.

You can file your complaint with LECA on their website, by fax, by mail, or in person at their office.

Complaint forms are available on the LECA website, at their office, at all police stations, and in some community centres, legal clinics and Service Ontario locations.

You can also visit any Durham Regional Police division to make a complaint in person, within six months of the alleged wrongdoing. It should be in writing and must be signed by the person directly affected. All complaints made about an officer or police service will then be referred to the LECA for review and screening, to determine next steps in accordance with their policy and procedure.

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is a civilian agency that investigates incidents involving law enforcement where someone dies, is injured seriously, alleges sexual assault or is shot at. If you wish to report an incident of this nature, please contact the SIU directly.

Please email complaintsintake@drps.ca if you would like to make a complaint against a special constable at Durham Regional Police Service.

The Durham Regional Police Service is committed to ensuring the highest level of transparency, trust and confidence within the community. Police disciplinary hearings are held under the Community Safety and Policing Act, and are public proceedings held in accordance with the Statutory Powers and Procedure Act. It is important for the public to have a clearer understanding and appreciation of the ongoing disciplinary hearings that take place. The results of these disciplinary hearings will be accessible to the public, and the outcomes will be published for a period of three months.

Recent Police Service Act Decisions

Police Service Act Hearings are open to the public unless a ruling has been made by the presiding Hearing Officer, pursuant to exceptions provided for in the Statutory Powers Procedure Act section 9, including matters that are ruled to involve public security, intimate, financial or personal matters.

All other matters are considered public proceedings which are recorded verbatim, and generally any material or evidence presented becomes part of the public record.

The hearings may be in person or through audio/ video conference call. In-person hearings are conducted at Durham Reporting Services, 12 Stanley Court in the Town of Whitby, ON. For in-person appearances, there may be restrictions in place due to COVID-19 regulations including limited access, seating and masking requirements. All Ministry of Health guidelines will be followed.

Upcoming Police Service Act Hearings

Upcoming Criminal Trials