THUNDER BAY — Suspended city police chief Sylvie Hauth will have her retirement take effect later this month.
The Thunder Bay Police Services Board on Tuesday announced it has accepted a resignation letter from Hauth, with her employment officially ending on Jan. 27.
Last year, Hauth had announced her intention to retire, effective in June. On the same day she announced the news of her impending retirement, the Ontario Civilian Police Commission announced she would face a Police Services Act hearing for allegations of misconduct. Hauth was suspended by the police services board days later.
The board said acting chief Dan Taddeo will remain in the role until a new chief is appointed.
With her retirement, Hauth is no longer subject to disciplinary proceedings. The Ontario Civilian Police Commission had scheduled a five-day hearing for February.
The charges of discreditable conduct and deceit related to Hauth's role in an investigation the police service initiated against Thunder Bay Police Services Board member Georjann Morriseau over breach of trust, related to allegations she shared confidential information with a police officer.
Hauth was aware of that investigation and allowed it to proceed, despite acknowledging in an Oct. 12, 2021 confidential memo to the police services board that "it would not be appropriate for a police service to investigate any of its members or board members," according to information provided by the civilian police commission earlier this year.
Similar allegations against deputy chief Ryan Hughes were unsubstantiated, as was an allegation of collusion among Hauth, Hughes and Thunder Bay Police Service legal counsel Holly Walbourne in their responses to inquiries from the civilian police commission.
Hauth was hired as the city's police chief in 2018 following two stints leading the service in an acting capacity. The first woman to lead the Thunder Bay Police Service, Hauth joined the force in 1993, working her way from a front desk cadet up to the rank of inspector, eventually becoming the deputy chief before ascending to the top job.
