Two Ottawa police officers left the service this month following serious allegations-one was accused of sexual misconduct, while the other faced criminal charges related to intimate partner violence, according to .
This development follows a strong warning from the police chief in May, urging problematic officers to change their behavior or resign.
A criminologist specializing in police oversight and accountability emphasizes that the force shouldn’t view these departures as a complete solution. The public deserves more transparency about what transpired.
Const. Tyler Hawkins resigned on July 1 after being suspended with pay on May 28, as confirmed by Ottawa police and the Ottawa Police Association. He joined the force in August 2015 and had been serving in central division patrols.
Change your behavior now, or quit. Leave. We don’t need you in the organization.- Ottawa police Chief Eric Stubbs, May 8 video
The details surrounding Hawkins’s suspension and resignation remain undisclosed by both the force and the union.
CBC found out that his suspension was due to claims he used a fake social media profile to seek intimate relationships with women he met during service calls.
Moreover, several female colleagues reportedly complained about Hawkins’s attempts to initiate sexual relationships with them.
The accusations against Hawkins align closely with inappropriate behaviors that Stubbs addressed in his video message.
Ottawa police Chief Eric Stubbs, in a still image taken from a video message he sent to his entire force on May 8, 2026. (Ottawa Police Service)
‘Messaging vulnerable victims’
CBC first reported about this video, which was distributed within the police department two months after inquiries were made regarding a sergeant accused of sexual harassment and assault. This was shortly after reports surfaced involving accusations against the head of the police union for historical sexual assault.
The video quickly garnered attention from various outlets including CTV and TMZ, spreading widely across social media platforms.
“We’ve seen members messaging vulnerable victims on calls that they’ve attended in an attempt to develop an intimate relationship,” says Stubbs in the video. He also encourages all members to support women both within their ranks and throughout the community.
“Two things need to happen, and there are only two things,” Stubbs states later while addressing problematic personnel directly. “Change your behavior now, or quit. Leave. We don’t need you in the organization.”
Hawkins hasn’t been charged with any offenses under either the Criminal Code or Ontario’s Community Safety and Policing Act.
Ottawa police did not provide information on whether Hawkins had been suspended or placed on special duty before May 28.
An aerial view of Ottawa Police Service headquarters on Elgin Street in April. (Michel Aspirot/CBC)
2nd constable retired this month
The other officer who departed did so through retirement on July 10, according to both Ottawa police and union officials.
This individual is currently facing criminal charges related to alleged intimate partner violence: assault; harassment through threatening conduct; repeated following/watching/besetting; careless storage of his restricted Glock pistol issued by Ottawa police; along with careless use of this firearm.
CBC has chosen not to name this officer so as not to reveal details about the alleged victim, who is a civilian member of the Ottawa Police Service.
No information was provided by either the force or union regarding when this charged officer started working for them or what roles he held over time due to his retirement status.
Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and it does not benefit anyone – from the police to government entities or citizens – simply saying ‘All good, we got rid of [them], so problem solved.’- Patrick Watson, assistant professor of criminology
CBC has yet to contact either officer who left this month successfully.
The outlet reached out for comments from both parties involved along with legal counsel representing one unnamed officer but received no response confirming if they were contacted successfully or if they chose not to comment instead.
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