Posted:
The Director of the Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) found no reasonable grounds to believe that a Halifax Regional Police (HRP) officer committed a criminal offence when they discharged their firearm during an attempted traffic stop in Halifax.
On the evening of August 27, 2025, two HRP officers were leaving a routine call on Main Avenue in Halifax when they saw a vehicle driving erratically. They attempted to stop the vehicle by walking into the street and motioning for the driver to stop. The driver did not comply and accelerated towards the officers. One officer was able to move out of the way, and the other discharged their firearm twice at the vehicle. The vehicle fled the scene and was not located until early the next morning. The driver and passenger were arrested, and no injuries were sustained as a result of the incident.
SiRT received a referral from HRP the same day and started its investigation.
The Director’s summary report can be found online: SiRT Concludes Investigation into Halifax Regional Police Officer’s Use of Firearm | Serious Incident Response Team .
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 to be investigated that may have arisen from the actions of any police officer, on or off duty, in Nova Scotia and 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. To learn more, visit: www.sirtnsnb.ca .
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Media Contact: Khalehla Perrault, Manager of Communications & Special Projects