"Freedom of action is such an important [component to] understand in law enforcement," remarked retired Ottawa Police Service (OPS) Staff Sergeant Peter Danyluk, emphasizing the extension of professional discretion to OPS officers during the ongoing trial of Detective Helen Grus.

Grus is facing a hearing over her decision to investigate the COVID-19 vaccine status of mothers of deceased infants.

Danyluk said record management inquiries are conducted with regularity by OPS officers, including queries of cases in which the searching officer is not formally assigned as lead investigator.

Such queries are a "'normal, daily activity" at the OPS, Danyluk said.

Another retired OPS officer, Chris Renwick, who is the hearing officer overseeing Grus's tribunal, also said during the first week of proceedings that such queries are regular occurrences in policework.

Renwick denied the admission of an OPS document detailing a job description sought to be entered as an exhibit by the defence, maintaining an objection raised by the prosecution. Such a document, prosecutor Vanessa Stewart said, was property of the OPS and submitted to the tribunal without her client's permission.

The disciplinary tribunal is scheduled to continue through Thursday, with future dates, if needed, to be determined.