Detective tried to uncover vaccine status of parents of dead children, sources say

An Ottawa police detective who defied the force’s COVID-19 mandates is under investigation for allegedly trying to find out whether parents whose infants died suddenly during the pandemic were vaccinated, CBC News has learned.

The misconduct allegations against Det. Helen Grus raise questions about how police are handling cases involving the most vulnerable members of society — and whether their own personal pandemic biases are affecting their work.

Grus has been suspended with pay since Feb. 4 amid an ongoing internal disciplinary investigation into how and why she allegedly tried to gather the information.

A rank-and-file constable, Grus is a detective in the force’s sexual assault and child abuse unit, which investigates criminal cases involving some of the most vulnerable victims police see.

That includes newborns and infants who die suddenly — investigations mandated by law.

These deaths are automatically investigated
When an otherwise healthy baby dies unexpectedly, unexplained or from unnatural causes, the provincial coroner and police are required to investigate the matter.

For example, this would include any case of sudden infant death syndrome.

After rigorous medical tests, including autopsies, the coroner then classifies the manner of death as either natural, accidental, homicide or undetermined.

Ottawa police can lay charges in cases where they believe there is misconduct, but when an infant dies, that is extremely rare.

According to multiple sources, Grus allegedly accessed Ottawa police files for which she was not an investigating officer, and then allegedly contacted the coroner’s office to obtain information about COVID-19 vaccinations by parents in these cases.

It is not known how many times she allegedly tried to access this information or whether she was ultimately successful in collecting it.

It is also unclear for what purpose Grus allegedly accessed the information, whether she was acting in her capacity as a police officer or whether she was acting out of personal interest.

While police are tasked with investigating whether anything criminal led to a sudden death, it is the medical examiner who is reviewing the medical information in the cases.

Placed on leave for failing to comply with vaccine policy
Sources also described Grus as having anti-mask and anti-vaccine views at work.

CBC News has learned that she was one of fewer than 10 Ottawa police officers placed on unpaid leave after the service implemented a mandatory vaccination policy for all employees.

Any Ottawa police officer without at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine by Jan. 31 was sent home without pay. Grus’ suspension with pay was then imposed just days after the vaccination deadline.

According to Ontario's 2021 salary disclosure list, Grus was paid $137,390.15. Grus did not respond to a request for comment on the allegations against her.

In a statement to CBC News, the Ottawa Police Service confirmed her suspension, saying it was "related to an ongoing conduct investigation conducted by the Professional Standards Unit."

"As the Chief has advised repeatedly, [the service] has initiated several internal conduct investigations involving a small number of members since the beginning of the year. We take these investigations very seriously. These investigations are ongoing," the statement said.

The coroner's office said it could not comment on any Ottawa police investigations and, for "privacy reasons," could not discuss any death investigations.

No disciplinary charges have been filed against Grus to date.