Deborah Bourne, who resigned as a police officer earlier this month, is “in transition” within Waterloo Regional Police, Chief Bryan Larkin said Thursday in an interview with CTV News.

Larkin went on to say that the appointment of special constables is a “very public process,” and requires the approval of the Waterloo Regional Police Services Board.

“On Sept. 9, this matter will be made public and will be at the Police Services Board for review by the board,” he said.

Bourne had been a constable with Waterloo Regional Police for 25 years – a tenure that came to an end earlier this month when she resigned.

She had been on paid suspension since November 2012, due to a dozen charges levied against her under the Police Services Act.

Included in those charges were allegations of deceit, insubordination and corrupt practice, but no accusations of criminal wrongdoing.

Due to her resignation, the charges were stayed – meaning that they were neither proven nor disproven.

No evidence was ever heard in the case, and the charges would be reinstated if she returned to work as a police officer within five years.

Several people have contacted CTV News this week claiming that Bourne was rehired as a special constable after her dismissal.

Larkin called those claims “leaks” from people who “didn’t understand the process.”

He said Bourne’s current situation is part of a “negotiated settlement” stemming from the Police Services Act charges, based on a medical examination and a number of other factors.

“There’s a resolution that came about,” he said.

“It’s difficult for us to share all the information.”

The chief also apologized for how Bourne’s situation had been communicated both within Waterloo Regional Police and to the public.

“There’s a lot of confusion. I think that we could have handled this in a better fashion,” he said.

Contacted by CTV News prior to Larkin’s interview, members of the Waterloo Regional Police Services Board – which oversees the organization – declined to comment.

Most members of regional council, which appoints the majority of the police board, did likewise.

North Dumfries Mayor Sue Foxton was the exception.

She agreed to an interview, in which she said that she thought the case had been handled “really well” and had no issues with any decisions reached by police.

“It’s not easy to be hired by the police, even in the civilian sector,” said Foxton, who has held a civilian position with the police service in the past.

“They would have had to have proven themselves above question, or they wouldn’t have gotten the position.”