Photo provided by owner of the second house that was entered
A Peterborough Police Service officer is facing a criminal charge following the discharge of a firearm while off duty late last month, police say.
The officer was arrested Wednesday and charged with careless discharge of a firearm under the Criminal Code. The charge stems from an incident that occurred around 6:40 p.m. on December 31st.
Police say the off-duty officer attended the Peterborough Police station to report that a firearm had been discharged inside their home. Officers were sent to the residence to investigate and to ensure there were no ongoing safety concerns.
Shortly after the self-report, a neighbouring homeowner contacted 911 after returning home and discovering a bullet hole in a bedroom. Investigators later determined that a single round fired inside the officer’s residence exited the home and entered the neighbouring house. No one was inside the second home at the time, and no injuries were reported.
Forensic investigators attended both residences to recover the bullet, confirm its trajectory and match it to the seized firearm. Police say the firearm was a recently purchased, legally owned personal weapon. It was seized immediately, and the Chief Firearms Office was notified. Arrangements were also made with the firearm’s manufacturer to conduct a functional test and examination.
Other firearms in the home were lawfully transferred to another individual not residing at the address, in accordance with the Firearms Act.
Under provisions of the Community Safety and Policing Act, the officer has been removed from regular duties and reassigned to administrative work pending the outcome of the criminal case. Police say a professional standards misconduct investigation will follow once the court matter is resolved.
In a statement, Peterborough Police Chief Stuart Betts acknowledged the impact such incidents can have on public confidence.
“We understand that we must earn your trust and confidence through our actions each and every day,” Betts said, adding that police consulted with outside agencies and the Crown attorney before laying charges. He said investigators recognize the incident could have had “a devastating outcome” and noted that no one was physically injured.
The officer was released on an undertaking with conditions and is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 10, 2026. Police say there will be no further comment as the matter is before the courts.
