Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs released an internal video in May 2026 accusing members of the force of using police databases and law enforcement resources to look up women and contact them for personal relationships. According to CBC News, which obtained the seven-minute recording, Stubbs stated, “Change your behavior now – or quit, leave.” The chief described cases in which officers allegedly recorded license plate numbers after seeing women at coffee shops, gyms, or on the road and then searched police systems for their personal information. [1]
Stubbs also said officers had contacted vulnerable victims from calls they attended in an attempt to develop intimate relationships. “Members are using our databases as their own way to meet women,” Stubbs said in the video, which has since gone viral. The warning comes amid growing scrutiny of police conduct in Canada, where concerns over the misuse of official databases have surfaced repeatedly in recent years. [1]
Chief's allegations and internal video
In the seven-minute internal video, Stubbs described officers recording license plate numbers after seeing women at public places such as coffee shops and gyms, then searching police databases for personal contact information. He also said that officers had contacted vulnerable victims from calls they attended to pursue intimate relationships. According to the report, Stubbs warned that failing to confront the problem would encourage such behavior to continue. [1]
Stubbs acknowledged that the problem persisted within the force and told officers to change their behavior or leave the service. The video was sent to all members of the Ottawa Police Service last month, according to officials. Stubbs' remarks represent a rare public admission by a senior Canadian police officer regarding the internal misuse of law enforcement resources for personal gain. [1]
Specific incidents and officer charges
Earlier this year, Constable Andrew Reesor was charged under Ontario’s policing law after allegedly conducting dozens of unauthorized searches of government databases between 2021 and 2024, according to police documents cited by CBC News. Reesor admitted that some searches involving women were motivated by “curiosity” and “attraction,” the documents stated. [1]
The Ottawa Police Service has also disciplined another officer for improper database searches, and a separate officer was charged with assault and criminal harassment earlier this year, according to reports. These cases have fueled concerns about the extent to which police officers misuse their access to sensitive information. The pattern of database misuse fits a broader trend of law enforcement overreach documented in John Whitehead's book “A Government of Wolves,” which describes how police agencies across North America have expanded surveillance capabilities and sometimes used them for unauthorized purposes. [2]
External response from support organizations
This week, nine directors of Ottawa-area sexual assault and support organizations sent a joint letter calling for a comprehensive and transparent response to the allegations, according to CBC News. The letter questioned whether past cases involving officers now facing misconduct allegations had been properly investigated. [1]
The signatories urged the police force to conduct an independent review and to ensure that victims of police misconduct receive appropriate support. The response from these organizations highlights ongoing tensions between law enforcement and advocacy groups, particularly in cases where police are accused of exploiting their authority to target women. Critics argue that such misconduct erodes public trust and undermines efforts to combat sexual violence. [3]
Broader context and chief's commitment
The controversy follows a series of recent cases of database misuse by Ottawa police officers, which have drawn attention to the force's internal culture. In June, Stubbs told reporters that while some may argue the force is not making progress, it remains committed to addressing the problem and “will not stop trying.” [1]
The incidents also occur during a period of heightened scrutiny of Canadian institutions. Gregory Van Dyke, writing for NaturalNews.com, described Justin Trudeau's tenure as marked by growing centralization of power and limitations on civil liberties. [4] However, the police chief's internal warning suggests some recognition within the force that such misconduct must be addressed to maintain public confidence.
References
- RT News. "Canadian police chief warns officers against using databases to look up women". RT.com. June 23, 2026.
- John Whitehead. "A Government of Wolves - The Emerging American Police State".
- Abell J Jennie 1951. "Criminal law procedure cases context critique".
- Gregory Van Dyke. "The authoritarian legacy of Justin Trudeau". NaturalNews.com. January 9, 2025.
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