A month after he was arrested in connection to a year-long investigation into a historical sexual assault, the city's deputy fire chief remains on administrative leave.
Waterloo regional police charged Brad Churchill, 48, with sexual assault and sexual assault with a weapon May 9 for crimes alleged to have taken place between August 2009 and September 2009.
Members of the special victims unit said they were contacted in April 2022 with the allegations and their investigation led to Churchill's arrest at his home in Kitchener last month.
None of the allegations against Churchill have been tested in court and he is considered innocent unless proven guilty.
A paralegal for the criminal defence lawyer representing Churchill appeared briefly via Zoom in a Kitchener courtroom Monday to schedule his next appearance, July 17.
A publication ban is in effect to protect the identity of the victim.
Contacted Tuesday, Churchill's lawyer, Thomas L. Brock, said he wouldn't comment on the matter.
Asked if Churchill is still on active duty with the city's fire department, the city confirmed he is on administrative leave but could not confirm if he is still being paid.
"We are aware of the situation involving Mr. Churchill. Given that the matter is currently before the court, we cannot comment and will allow for the judicial process to take its course. Mr. Churchill is currently on administrative leave,” wrote the city's director of communications, Julie Kalbfleisch, in an email to CambridgeToday.
According to the Ontario Public Salary Disclosure list, Churchill's salary with the City of Cambridge was $161,817 in 2022.
Before coming to Cambridge, where he also served as captain and acting platoon chief, Churchill was a captain with the Wilmot Township Fire Department.
In 2012, Conestoga College honoured Churchill with a community services award for outstanding alumni. He graduated from the college's ambulance and emergency care program in 1996.
A blog post on Conestoga's website says Churchill became an instructor in Conestoga’s Pre-Service Firefighter program in 2001 and has served as a preceptor and mentor to many students.
He was also a primary care paramedic with Perth County EMS, and received the federal Fire Services Exemplary Service Medal.
In January, Churchill was honoured by his colleagues and Cambridge Fire Chief Brian Arnold with a Province Of Ontario Fire Long Service Medal (30 years) as well as a Federal 30 year Fire Services Exemplary Service Bar.
News of Churchill's arrest comes a week after Arnold announced his departure from the City of Cambridge.
Arnold will be the new fire chief and general manager of Guelph Fire Services starting July 31.
Waterloo regional police are asking anyone with information about the case to call police at 519-570-9777, extension 8980.
To provide anonymous information, please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit online at www.waterloocrimestoppers.com.
