An Ottawa police officer has been demoted after he was found guilty of misconduct for using police databases to keep tabs on his ex-partners and other members of the public.
According to a report by the Ontario Police Arbitration and Adjudication Commission, Const. Jerome Rabiha-Stevens committed misconduct after failing to comply with procedures established by the chief of police and undermining public trust. As a result, he was ordered demoted from first-class constable to second-class constable for 18 months.
Details of the incident
On April 27, 2025, Rabiha-Stevens was on duty when he saw his ex-partner, referred to as S.T., at a Tim Hortons restaurant parking lot with a male occupant, referred to as B.H., in the front passenger seat. Rabiha-Stevens then drove his police cruiser and stopped it between the vehicles of S.T. and B.H., confronting S.T. about the whereabouts of their child. He then reversed his cruiser and hit B.H.'s vehicle, leaving minor but visible damage.
B.H. reported the incident to the Ottawa Police Service that same day, stating that Rabiha-Stevens had pulled up aggressively beside the vehicle and hit it. The OPS intimate partner violence and motor-vehicle collision units also investigated the incident, but no criminal charges were laid.
Investigation reveals unauthorized searches
During the investigation, G.L., the owner of the vehicle B.H. was driving and B.H.'s ex-partner, disclosed that she had a sexual relationship with Rabiha-Stevens and raised concerns that the officer knew her home address even though she never shared that information with him. That prompted the OPS professional standards unit to launch an investigation nearly a month after the vehicle collision.
Investigators found that Rabiha-Stevens looked up G.L.'s licence plate on April 8, 2025, using the Ministry of Transportation's Inquiry Services System (MTO ISS), which was not authorized. MTO ISS is a database police officers use to access comprehensive driver and vehicle information. Investigators also found that the constable conducted several other unauthorized queries in MTO ISS and the Canadian Police Information Centre between March 2024 and May 2025 to look up people he knew and other members of the public. The queries were made when he was both on- and off-duty, including during sick leave and annual leave. He also made unauthorized queries using his police-issued cellphone.
Settlement and demotion
The demotion comes after a lengthy investigation into the incident led to a settlement on Wednesday, April 20. The report stated: "Const. Rabiha-Stevens will be demoted from the rank of First Class Constable to Second Class Constable for a period of eighteen (18) months, following which the officer will be returned to the rank of First Class Constable, on the basis of satisfactory work performance to be determined by the Service."
This case highlights the importance of maintaining public trust and adhering to established procedures within law enforcement. Unauthorized use of police databases not only violates policies but also undermines the integrity of the police service.
