Kingston Police Headquarters in January 2024. Photograph by Michelle Dorey Forestell/Kingstonist.
Editor’s notice: This text has been up to date because it was initially revealed at 4:43 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. Please see backside of article for many lately up to date info.
The deputy chief of the Kingston Police Drive has been suspended, the chair of the Kingston Police Companies Board (KPSB) has now confirmed.
Having spent simply over three months within the place at this level, then-Inspector Matthew Funnell was named to the deputy chief place in late August 2024. Amongst his {qualifications} for the place, Funnell’s “vast experience with the organization” was cited by KPSB Chair Jarrod Stearns as he introduced Funnell’s appointment.
It’s unknown when Funnell was positioned on suspension at the moment.
Deputy Police Chief Matthew Funnell. Photograph through Kingston Police.
Funnell joined Kingston Police in 2001, and labored in numerous models as a Constable, together with frontline patrol, and the Prison Investigations Division, the place he was assigned to the Basic Investigations Unit and the Main Crime Unit. Previous to his appointment to the deputy chief place, he served as an Inspector of the Investigative Companies Division, in addition to of the Operation Help Division, in accordance with info from Kingston Police, and in 2005, Funnell was one of many founders of the Kingston Police Chilly Case Unit (which not exists – additional particulars on that matter might be present in earlier Kingstonist protection).
Previous to becoming a member of the native police service, Funnell labored with the Carleton Place Police, the place he started working in 1996, Kingston Police shared on the time of Funnell’s appointment to the deputy chief place, however is an area of the area, having grown up in Gananoque.
Kingstonist reached out to the Kingston Police Media Relations Officer, Constable Anthony Colangeli, for affirmation of Funnell’s suspension and additional particulars, akin to whether or not the deputy chief is suspended from energetic obligation or from service solely. Colangeli mentioned he was unable to remark, and directed inquiries to the KPSB. Kingstonist additionally reached out to Funnell instantly, however no response was acquired.
For his half, KPSB Chair Stearns confirmed that Funnell has been suspended, however gave no additional particulars on the character of that suspension, nor on the reasoning for it.
“That is all for now,” he advised Kingstonist in an e mail, which was despatched in response to a number of questions relating to the state of affairs.
Stearns did say, nonetheless, that Funnell has been suspended with pay. Kingstonist readers might recall that Funnell has been included within the Public Sector Wage Disclosure listings — the so-called “Sunshine List” — for each 2023 and 2022.
Kingstonist will proceed to pursue this story to deliver additional particulars on the matter to the general public.
UPDATE (Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, at 2:25 p.m.):
On the assembly of the Kingston Police Companies Board (KPSB) on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, Kingstonist spoke with Mayor Bryan Paterson in regards to the suspension of Matthew Funnell, Deputy Chief of Kingston Police.
Simply days after Funnell’s suspension got here to mild, Mayor Paterson was tight-lipped on the matter as he spoke with the media following the KPSB assembly within the William Hackett Board Room of Kingston Police Headquarters. Each Kingston Police and the KPSB haven’t disclosed any particulars on Funnell’s suspension, apart from that he’s been suspended with pay. Requested in regards to the nature of Funnell’s suspension, Paterson maintained that establishment.
“I can absolutely say that there will be more information,” he mentioned.
“Obviously, that will be shared at the appropriate time, there’s nothing more that I can say.”
The one particular person to discuss the suspension at this level has been KPSB Chair Jarrod Stearns. It was Stearns who confirmed Funnell’s suspension, and who disclosed that the deputy chief continues to obtain pay in the course of the suspension. Nevertheless, Stearns was not current on the December 19 KPSB assembly, so no additional questions could possibly be posed to him.
Kingstonist will proceed to pursue this story and share up to date info with the general public as extra particulars grow to be accessible.
