Senior Toronto cop allegedly ‘interrupted’ investigation into nephew’s car crash

A senior Toronto police officer is accused of interfering with an investigation into a “bad accident” involving her nephew in May, preventing a fellow officer from determining whether alcohol had been a factor in the crash, according to allegations in newly released police documents. Insp. Joyce Schertzer made her first appearance before the Toronto police tribunal Tuesday, facing three allegations of professional misconduct stemming from a May collision involving her family member.Schertzer — a former homicide detective and the latest of several high-ranking officers to face allegations of misconduct this year — did not enter a plea during the brief hearing. None of the allegations have been proven at the tribunal. Neither Schertzer nor her lawyer immediately responded to a Star request for comment.According to a document outlining the alleged incident, Schertzer was working at midtown’s 11 division on May 1 when she got a call from her daughter that Schertzer’s nephew had been in a “bad accident.”The charge document alleges that Schertzer arranged for one of the officers from her division to be sent to the scene of collision, downtown in another police division, “circumvent(ing) the priority system to the benefit of your family,” the documents allege.Schertzer is accused of going to the scene herself and being the first to speak to her nephew, the documents allege.“You gathered information about the collision and became actively involved in the investigation. You then had a private conversation with the investigating officer and your nephew was advised he could leave the scene,” the police document alleges.The document alleges her nephew’s vehicle had damaged city property, requiring Toronto police’s Traffic Services unit had to come to the scene for a collision investigation — but the officer assigned to the investigation “did not have the opportunity to determine whether alcohol might be a contributing factor to the collision and required further investigation.”“The investigation was interrupted as a result of your nephew being removed from the scene. You failed to ensure that a thorough investigation was conducted into the collision,” the document says.Schertzer is also accused of failing to make notes of the statement provided by the driver — her nephew — and of failing to collecting evidence. “By becoming involved in the investigation into your nephew’s Motor Vehicle Collision, you failed to abide by Service Governance Standards of Conduct relating to conflict of interest,” the police document alleges.The case returns to the tribunal in January.In January, two Toronto police superintendents were charged with professional misconduct allegations. Supt. Stacy Clarke is currently charged in connection to an internal probe into allegations of “promotional impropriety” and Supt. Riyaz Hussein — then the head of the force’s disciplinary tribunal — was charged with criminal offences and professional misconduct after allegedly driving while impaired and causing a collision with a delivery truck on Highway 401. The cases are still before the court and tribunal.In April, Insp. Chris Boddy pleaded guilty at the tribunal to discreditable conduct after being convicted of impaired driving.Officers found guilty of professional misconduct at the police tribunal face penalties ranging from a reprimand to dismissal.Wendy Gillis is a Toronto-based reporter covering crime and policing for the Star. Reach her by email at wgillis@thestar.ca or follow her on Twitter: @wendygillis