One of the Ottawa police investigators was found guilty of "disgraceful conduct" following a series of failures in the investigation of the separate deaths of two children, raising significant controversy over accountability mechanisms within the security apparatus.

Detective Chris O'Brien, who served in the major crimes unit, was found guilty after an internal review concluded that he did not follow basic procedures in two investigations that took place in 2020 and 2021, one relating to the death of a newborn baby and the other concerning a two-year-old girl.

The findings from the disciplinary accountability sessions indicated that the investigator did not conduct interviews with key witnesses, ignored forensic reports, and did not adequately document his steps, which undermined the credibility of the investigations and caused distress to the affected families.

In a hearing held this week, the disciplinary officer described the conduct as a "systemic failure that negatively impacts public trust," noting that the conviction is related not only to procedural errors but also to a lack of professionalism in highly sensitive cases.

Despite the conviction, the police have not yet issued a final decision regarding the disciplinary action, which could involve suspension or removal from the position, amid calls from the local community for greater transparency and accountability.

This case is one of the most prominent incidents involving the Ottawa police recently, highlighting the ongoing challenges in dealing with child death cases within the criminal justice system.