Fredericton police officer Tim Sowers faces second charge

A second Criminal Code charge was laid Tuesday against Fredericton Police Force Sgt. Tim Sowers.

Sowers was charged with one count of assault relating to an incident in July 2015.The charge was laid as a summary conviction offence as opposed to a more serious indictable offence.

The charge laid Tuesday is the result of a separate incident from the one in June 2015 that led to Sowers being chargedin Decemberwith uttering threats.

Both incidents were investigated by the Kennebecasis Regional Police Force.

On Monday, Cpl. Lou Lafleur was charged with impaired driving, becoming the second member of the force facing such a charge, joining Const. Darrell Brewer.

Fredericton Police Chief Leanne Fitch issued a statement Tuesday stating this week's developments were not unexpected, but Fitch deferred comment to a later date.

"We recognize that there is a great public interest and concern with respect to recent, and ongoing criminal and Police Act investigations relating to some members of our police force.

"The issues reported in recent days are not unexpected to us, and are investigations that were already underway in 2015, while some remain ongoing."

Fitch noted that further developments are expected, with an arbitrator scheduled to issue a ruling by Thursday in the New Brunswick Police Commission arbitration hearing involving Const. Cherie Campbell.

Campbell is accused of discreditable conduct under the Police Act related to a shoplifting arrest in Houlton, Maine, and is also accused of attempting to obtain favourable treatment from another police officer.

Campbell is suspended with pay.

Sowers and Lafleur are on active administrative desk duty with the Fredericton force while the criminal proceedings are underway.

An investigation under the New Brunswick Police Act will take place once the criminal proceedings have been dealt with.