TORONTO

Three Toronto cops have been suspended from duty in the wake of allegations a female parking enforcement officer was sexually assaulted.

Toronto Police said Thursday they are not legally allowed to comment on active investigations, so they are unable to confirm or deny that such a probe is under way.

However, several sources told the Toronto Sun the three male officers are under investigation for an alleged incident involving a blue hornet in mid-January at the Westin Harbour Castle hotel on Queen’s Quay E. near Yonge St.

The sources, who spoke under condition of anonymity and did not name the officers involved, said the trio work out of 51 Division at Parliament and Front Sts.

Police spokesman Mark Pugash agreed to speak only in generalities about why officers may be suspended while they are under investigation.

“Suspensions are not a punishment or a finding, they are a mechanism that enables an investigation to continue,” he said Thursday.

He also explained that such investigations can end in one of three ways.

“An investigation can end in criminal charges, in which case we would identify the accused,” Pugash said. “It could also result in Police Services Act charges, which would lead to a tribunal that would be open to public and the maximum penalty could be dismissal.”

“Or it could end in a finding of insufficient evidence, which would mean be no criminal or Police Services Act charges are laid,” he said.

The police union released a statement Thursday regarding the unidentified officers, who are not facing any charges at this point.

“The Toronto Police Association is aware of the sexual assault allegations made against three of our officers,” TPA president Mike McCormack said. “The officers have been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.”

He pointed out that everyone involved — the accused and the alleged victim — are members of the TPA.

“We will not be making any further comment until the complaint has been fully investigated,” McCormack said.

chris.doucette@sunmedia.ca