Why did Brantford police take 18 months to tell the public about officer charged with obstructing justice?

A Brantford police officer with five years on the job wascharged with obstructing justice onMarch of 2023, according to a press release sent out on Thursdayby Brantford police more than 18 months after the charge was laid.

Efforts on Friday to contact Robin Matthews-Osmond, Corporate Communications Manager forBrantford Police Service, to find out why it took so long for the police service to tell the public about the charge went unanswered by publication time.

The email toMatthews-Osmond was met with an auto-reply saying she was"currently out of the office, returning Tuesday, September 24, 2024."

Matthews-Osmond said, in the Thursday press release, that the accused was charged onMarch 8, 2023 after police began an investigation into the officer's conduct related to an incident that happened in September 2022.

The release said the officer will be in court on Nov. 19, 2024in Brantford and the officer has "been suspended from duty since October 28, 2022. This suspension remains in effect pending the outcome of the Criminal Court process."

"This alleged incident is not reflective of the values of the Brantford Police Service," Matthews-Osmondsaid in the release.

"At the core of the Brantford Police Service is a team of dedicated sworn and civilian members who provide professional service to our community and demonstrate a strong moral compass based on trust, dignity, and respect."

The release did not name the officer charged.