A long-serving detective at Ottawa Police Service (OPS) is facing a two-year demotion due to discreditable conduct. The disciplinary tribunal determined that Const. Helen Grus breached privacy boundaries by inappropriately accessing files of deceased children and questioning a parent about a mother’s vaccination status.
Grus was suspended in 2022 following allegations of engaging in an unauthorized project by accessing case files outside her assignment. She was also accused of disrupting an investigation by contacting the father of a deceased infant to inquire about the mother’s COVID-19 vaccination status.
In March 2025, a finding of discreditable conduct was made against Grus, resulting in her demotion from first-class constable to second-class constable for 24 months. Retired OPS superintendent Chris Renwick, who issued the demotion, emphasized the importance of addressing abuse of power and biased actions within the police force.
Renwick expressed concerns over Grus’ actions, stating that unauthorized inquiries into sensitive matters like infant deaths and accessing protected medical records for personal reasons could tarnish the OPS’s reputation. He criticized Grus for being oblivious to the gravity of her actions, suggesting that she had caused significant harm to the organization.
During the disciplinary proceedings, prosecutors advocated for the two-year demotion, highlighting Grus’ disregard for protocol and oversight mechanisms within law enforcement. The demotion, considered a serious penalty, is second only to dismissal in the disciplinary hierarchy.
Despite attracting support from vaccine skeptics nationwide, Grus and her defense team maintained that her actions were not discreditable and viewed the disciplinary process as retaliation for whistle-blowing, an assertion not supported by the tribunal’s findings. The demotion is expected to result in a loss of approximately $30,000 in income for Grus, along with missed opportunities totaling $25,000 since her suspension.
Renwick also criticized the conduct of legal representatives during the proceedings, noting that it led to delays and disruptions, including name-calling and constant objections.
