Ottawa police officer Charlene Abella suspended without pay after sex crime charges

Const. Charlene Abella in a photo posted to OPS social media in 2022. Abella, a constable with the OPS, has been charged by the Peel Regional Police Service with three counts of sexual assault, two counts of sexual interference, and one count of sexual exploitation. Photo by OPS/INSTAGRAMArticle content

Ottawa police say Const. Charlene Abella has been suspended without pay following her release from jail.

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Police announced last week that Abella was charged with sex crimes against minors, including three counts of sexual assault, two counts of sexual interference and one count of sexual exploitation.

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The alleged charges do not relate to on-duty conduct, police said.

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At the time, police said she was suspended with pay per the provisions of the Community Safety and Policing Act, which outlines criteria for police suspension.

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After reviewing the conditions of Abella’s release, though, OPS say Abella is now suspended without pay.

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The provincial legislation says a chief of police may suspend a police officer, other than a deputy chief of police, without pay under several different circumstances.

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That includes if a police officer is charged with a serious offence and the alleged offence was not committed in relation to the performance of the officer’s duties. The law also says an officer can be suspended without pay if failure to do so would “bring discredit to the reputation of the police service,” or if their bail conditions interfere with their ability to perform their duties as a police officer.

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The law says a police officer suspended without pay is still entitled to benefits an officer would normally receive, however.

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Abella was granted bail and was banned from playgrounds, parks, schools and pools, and can’t be near girls under the age of 18. The suspended officer is also banned from working or volunteering with minors, and banned from being anywhere near an Ottawa basketball organization.

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The charges against Abella have not been proven in court.

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With files from Gary Dimmock

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