A Police Services Act Tribunal call scheduled for this morning for Barrie police Insp. Valarie Gates to address pending charges against her has been put off until the new year.
Gates, who now faces two discreditable conduct charges under the Police Services Act stemming from an alleged on-duty, internal incident, was scheduled to take part in a conference call at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday — which had previously been postponed following the last call on Sept. 11.
Prosecutor Jessica Barrow noted that she and her office are still in the midst of pulling together a large amount of disclosure for the defence, and therefore were requesting additional time.
“Before the last conference call, we were intended to have, and did receive, another disclosure request from (defence attorney Joanne) Mulcahy, which was fairly extensive in nature. While we are in the process of pulling that material together to provide to her, it is going to take a little bit more time,” Barrow said on the brief call.
Barrow noted the pair spoke on Tuesday and were in agreement that putting the tribunal call off until January should provide time for that process to be completed.
Barrow said it would be her intention in January to then discuss setting a hearing date, which is scheduled to take place Jan. 16, 2025 beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Gates was first charged in December 2023 with one charge of discreditable conduct under the Police Services Act. The second charge, according to police officials, was laid in June 2024.
Both charges are related to the same series of alleged events, however the specific nature of the allegations against Gates remains unclear.
Police have said the charge falls under Section 2(1)(a)(xi) of the Police Services Act.
Gates, who is married to Barrie Police Chief Rich Johnston, has spent a large part of her policing career working in domestic violence, as well as in areas of mental health and child/youth advocacy.
Gates is scheduled for an additional conference call on Thursday, Nov. 28 starting at 8:30 a.m.
