Ottawa police Chief Charles Bordeleau cleared in traffic ticket call

Ottawa police Chief Charles Bordeleau has been cleared of misconduct in his handling of a traffic ticket issued to his father-in-law earlier this year.

According to reports brought up at an Ottawa Police Services Board meeting, Bordeleau phoned the Provincial Offences Court office on Jan. 25 to learn the name of the prosecutor assigned to his wife's father's careless driving charge.

Bordeleau is married to lawyer Lynda Bordeleau, who acts as general counsel for Peel Regional Police. Her father is former Gloucester police chief Lester Thompson.

As first reported by the Ottawa Citizen, the case against Thompson was dismissed.

At the time, Bordeleau denied any wrongdoing.

"I have in no way influenced the outcome of a ticket issued to my family member," he told the board back in March.

The issue was sent to the Ontario Civilian Police Commission, the civilian body responsible for governing the Ottawa Police Service, which delivered its report to the board Aug. 8.

"Chief Bordeleau did not attempt to use his position to influence the outcome of the Highway Traffic Act matter nor to communicate with the prosecutors," reads the report.

"The withdrawal of the charge happened because the civilian witness did not attend and there was no reasonable prospect of conviction. Withdrawal of a charge of this type in these circumstances was consistent with the practices adopted by the City of Ottawa in the prosecution of Highway Traffic Act offences."

An excerpt was made available to the media by the police services board.