The Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) is investigating the actions of an off duty Cape Breton Regional Police(CBRP) officer in Sydney, Cape Breton.

Preliminary information suggests:

• On the night of November 28, 2025, an off duty CBRP officer attended a craft beer festival in Sydney.
• At the event the off-duty officer was speaking to an adult male and an altercation broke out between the two.
• Police were called and the male was brought to the hospital where he was treated for head injuries.

CBRP referred this matter to SiRT on November 29, 2025. Due to the injuries sustained and in the public interest, SiRT has assumed responsibility for this investigation.

SiRT is responsible for investigating all matters that involve death, serious injury, sexual assault and intimate partner violence or other matters of a public interest that may have arisen from the actions of any police officer, on or off duty, in Nova Scotia or New Brunswick. Investigations are under the direction and control of an independent civilian director, who has the sole authority to determine if charges should be laid at the conclusion of an investigation.

Media Contact

Khalehla Perrault
Manager of Communications & Special Projects
Email: Khalehla.Perrault@novascotia.ca