Royal Newfoundland Constabulary enlists outside aid to find source of media leaks

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary has called in an outside police force to help probe leaksto the media about an investigation into the handling of a confidential informant, CBC News has learned.

• Royal Newfoundland Constabulary facing criminal probe by external investigators

In January,CBC News reported that senior members of the RNC are under criminal investigationby the Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT), a civilian-led agency from Nova Scotia that investigates serious incidents involving police forces.

SIRTinvestigators arelooking at the conduct of as many as seven senior RNC members.

Asked in January what the matter is about,RonMacDonalda lawyer and civilian director ofSIRTwho is leading the investigation would not elaborate.

However, CBC learned that it is focused on theRNC'suse of a confidential informant.

Now sources say the Toronto Police Service has been called in to help find outwho is leaking information to the media about the situation.

RNC, Toronto police won't comment

Asked for comment on the most recent matter, the RNC offered a statement which neither confirmed nor denied the investigation into leaks.

"The RNC does on occasion request the assistance of other police services in conducting investigations," the statement said.

Meanwhile, the Toronto Police Service said it was called in to "assist" in an investigation but did not elaborate on the nature of that case, and deferred further questions to the RNC.

2nd internal investigation

It'sthe second time in less than a year that the RNC has launched an investigation in an effort to pinpoint who leaked information to CBC News.

Chief BillJanesordered an investigationaftera letter written byConst. JoeSymth, the RNC officer who shot and killed DonDunphyin April 2015, was leaked.

That investigation was handled internally by the RNC's Professional Standards division.

Smythsent the900-word letter to all RNC staff a week afterDunphywas shot in his home inMitchellsBrook.

The outcome of that investigation is unknown.