Legal Services

The Legal Services Unit of the Guelph Police Service is staffed by Legal Counsel, Judith C. Sidlofsky Stoffman and Freedom of Information (FOI) Legal Assistant, James Lane.

Legal Counsel provides advice to the Guelph Police Services Board, the Chief of Police and the Executive and Senior Management Teams. 

In addition, Legal Counsel represents the Guelph Police Service at Tribunals and Courts and acts as a resource in the continuing education of both uniform and civilian members of the Guelph Police Service.

Legal Counsel oversees the Guelph Police Service Board’s Taxicab and Second-Hand Goods By-laws and is responsible for drafting and implementing contracts and protocols between the Guelph Police Service and other police and civilian organizations.

Legal Counsel serves on a number of in-house and external committees including the GPS Risk Management Committee and the GPS Health and Safety Committee as well as the Family Bench and Bar Committee and the Criminal Court Management Committee. As well, Legal Counsel is a member of the Police Legal Advisors Committee, a subcommittee of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police.

The Freedom of Information Legal Assistant is responsible for replying to Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) requests which are received from a variety of sources including insurance companies, lawyers, government agencies and private citizens at a rate of over 300 requests per year.

In addition, the Freedom of Information Legal Assistant works in conjunction with Legal Counsel to respond to motions for the disclosure of information initiated in the Province’s Superior Courts and applications for the disclosure of information brought before the Privacy Commissioner of Ontario.

Further information about Freedom of Information may be found in the Services section of this website.