DRP Association@AssociationDrp
The Durham Regional Police Association is fully aware of the allegations made by Ms. Riley over the past weekend. While we have remained silent until now to ensure the integrity of the investigative process, the recent conduct of certain individuals in the legal community necessitates a direct response.
Our Association does not fear transparency. In fact, at the request of our members, we proactively urged Command to refer this matter to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU). Although the SIU has declined to investigate, we remain committed to a full review by an independent outside agency. Our members are prepared to face an objective process.
On behalf of our membership, I must address the opportunistic conduct of a select few members of the local bar. It is both hypocritical and professionally distasteful to see criminal defence lawyers—individuals whose entire careers are built on the "presumption of innocence"—abandon that principle the moment it suits their political agenda or personal brand.
These select few individuals have chosen to bypass the facts in favour of a media campaign, using this incident as a tool for self-marketing. It is particularly galling that as these lawyers stand on their soapboxes today to disparage our profession, they do so under the protection of the very officers they are baselessly attacking.
The DRPA will not stand by while our members are tried in the court of public opinion by those more interested in headlines than the truth. We stand firmly with our officers and look forward to the facts of the investigation
