News Release

TORONTO - Attorney General Michael Bryant announced today that John Sutherland has been appointed for a five-year term as the director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), effective December 1, 2003.

Since April 4, 2003, Sutherland has been the interim director of the SIU, the arm's length government agency that investigates deaths and serious injuries that occur in the course of policing.

"John Sutherland has done an excellent job as interim director," said Bryant. "With his extensive legal experience, I am confident he will continue to make a valuable contribution as director of the SIU."

Sutherland has more than 25 years of legal experience, both as an assistant Crown attorney with the Ministry of the Attorney General and as a criminal defence lawyer.

He holds a Master of Law degree from the University of Toronto and has lectured or been a panelist at professional education programs for the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Ontario Bar Association, the Toronto Police Service, the RCMP, the Ontario Police College and the London (Ontario) City Police.

The SIU was created in 1990. Under the Police Services Act, the SIU director has the sole discretion to cause criminal charges to be laid against officers where there are reasonable grounds to do so.

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