A seasoned detective from the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) is facing a two-year demotion for engaging in discreditable conduct. The disciplinary tribunal determined that she violated the privacy of families by inappropriately accessing files of deceased children and questioning a parent about a mother’s vaccination status.
Const. Helen Grus was suspended in 2022 following allegations of involvement in an unauthorized project by accessing case files outside of her assignment. Additionally, she was accused of interfering in an investigation by contacting the father of a deceased infant to inquire about the COVID-19 vaccination status of the child’s mother.
Grus was found guilty of discreditable conduct in March 2025 and recently received a 24-month demotion from the rank of first-class constable to second-class constable as a consequence. Retired OPS superintendent Chris Renwick, who imposed the demotion, emphasized the importance of addressing abuse of power and biased actions within the police force.
The tribunal highlighted the severity of Grus’s actions, stating that her behavior had significantly tarnished the reputation of the OPS and could potentially cause further harm. Despite arguments from prosecutors advocating for the two-year demotion, Grus’s case has garnered support from vaccine skeptics across the country.
Grus, who will incur financial losses due to the demotion, has expressed difficulty in understanding why her actions were deemed discreditable. Her defense team suggested that the disciplinary process was retaliatory, although no evidence supported this claim. Throughout the proceedings, Renwick criticized the conduct and decorum displayed, citing delays caused by objections and contentious interactions during the hearing.
