Police meet with Hindu temple leaders after sex scandal breaks

Hamilton Police Chief Eric Girt met with local Hindu leaders to clear the air after news broke last month of an inappropriate relationship between a police officer and a source on the 2001 hate crime that destroyed the city's Hindu Samaj temple.

Temple leaders said they had an "open and in-depth discussion" with the police, in which they reiterated their desire to pursue "forgiveness and reconciliation."

But they said they also told police that though that peaceful path is their religious foundation, they do not want to be taken advantage of. 

Temple leaders had not been aware that there was an internal police investigation that found an improper relationship between then-Staff Sgt. Ian Matthews and a source on the arson case, who was dating one of the three men who pleaded guilty in connection with the crime.

CBC Hamilton obtained confidential reports by the Office of the Independent Police Review Director, which substantiated complaints of misconduct and breach of trust against Matthews, and outlined a police process in 2013 in which Matthews was about to be notified he was under investigation when he died by suicide.

"I was shocked to hear about … what they found out about the police officer with the girlfriend of the accused," said Ramesh Panchal, president of the temple. "It'd be shocking to anybody."

• READ MORE: Sex, drugs scandal casts shadow on prominent cop, notorious temple arson

In 2001, news of the temple arson attracted international media attention. Police said in 2013 new information led to the three men's arrest.

'We will follow the path of truth and reconciliation'

Temple leaders said the revelation tested their commitment, as a religious principle, to their words expressed in their victim impact statement.

"We will follow the path of truth and reconciliation; we stand on the moral ground of reconciliation over retaliation in accordance with the teachings of our religion," said Mani Subramanian, a member of the temple's board of directors.

"The police appreciated that we are standing our ground even at the time when we are tested and challenged."

'We should not be pushed aside'

But Panchal said that he made it clear that the community still expects to be treated well by police.

"We stand on moral grounds of reconciliation; we don't believe in eye for an eye," he said the leaders told Girt and Sandra Wilson, Hamilton Police Service's community relations coordinator.

"I did mention that just because we want to be peaceful it's just that we won't be walked upon," Panchal said. "Just because we don't say anything we should not be pushed aside."

"We have a good relationship with the police, and we would like to keep it that way," he said.

Chief: 'I'd love to tell everybody everything'

For the story last month, CBC Hamilton sent a list of specific questions to Hamilton Police, including: 

• how the service handled the revelation of the relationship and allegations of assault
• what could have been done sooner in response to the allegations to help or discipline Matthews
• what impact the relationship had on investigating and prosecuting the high-profile arson​

In response, the police service said in a statement that they are bound by secrecy in the police complaint process and would not comment about the case.

In an interview this week with CBC Hamilton, Girt acknowledged there are a "variety" of viewpoints on the revelation within the temple community.

Girt said he emphasized to the leaders that his hands were tied about disclosing the existence of a police investigation that was poised to lead to charges against Matthews at the time.

"What I explained to them is … I have to comply with the law. I'd love to tell everybody everything, but I can't," Girt said.

'Unintended consequences from disclosure'

"Because then everybody knows exactly what happened and when," Girt said. "In certain circumstances, and this is a good example, you have unintended consequences from disclosure of these things that impact people that are not party to it – by that I mean (Matthews') family members."

But Girt said the service doesn't hide things to save its members shame.

"We also know that we have a high accountability, and in the case of officers, it may be embarrassing," Girt said. "That's not the test."

Subramanian said temple leaders requested transparency from police on any investigations involving the temple in the future, once that information can be shared.

Also, temple leaders called on police to hold "periodic meetings with representatives of diverse communities" to update them on hate crime statistics.

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