The chief of police of the Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service will plead not guilty to a sexual assault charge, according to his legal representation.
Terry McCaffery was charged by the OPP Criminal Investigations Branch on Wednesday as a result of an investigation into a historical sexual assault allegation.
“Mr. McCaffery is presumed innocent and will be pleading not guilty to these allegations,” said Peter Thorning, a criminal defence lawyer based in Toronto.
“We will be vigorously defending this matter and look forward to the truth coming out in a court of law.”
Members of the OPP launched an investigation into the allegations last year after an individual came forward about an incident that occurred in 2019.
“The OPP will not comment further on specifics of this matter as that information is before the courts,” police said in a release. “A publication ban is in place to prevent revealing information pertaining to the victim or their identity.”
Duke Peltier, chief of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, said that he would not be providing an official statement about this matter, but he has received the press release from the OPP about the charges.
“The matter is now in the courts, and we will rely on the justice system. Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory respects the process set out by the OPP,” he said.
If anyone has information regarding this investigation, they are urged to call the OPP’s non-emergency number at 1-888-310-1122. Contact CrimeStoppers if you wish to remain anonymous.
When hired in 2018, McCaffrey was described by the service as an experienced First Nation policing veteran with more than 22 years of service from across Canada.
He had worked for the Dakota Ojibway Police Service in Manitoba, Blood Tribe Police Service, and Tsuu T’ina Nation Police Service in Alberta.
Just before joining the Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service, he had spent 10 years with the Treaty Three Police Service in Kenora.
McCaffrey started his policing career in 1996 where he was trained at the RCMP Training Academy – Depot in Regina, Sask.
Colleen Romaniuk is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter at The Sudbury Star.
