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Nova Scotia’s independent police agency charged Bridgewater Police Chief John Collyer with three sexually related offences Thursday morning.

According to the Serious Incident Response Team, Collyer faces one charge of sexual assault and two counts of sexual exploitation.

READ MORE: Bridgewater police chief placed on leave following sex assault allegations

The charges follow a nearly year-long investigation into allegations made by a 17-year-old female against a member of the Bridgewater Police Service. The offences allegedly occurred between April 1, 2016 and July 31, 2016.

Collyer has been the chief of police in Bridgewater since 2011. According to Scott Feener, deputy chief of the Bridgewater police, Collyer had been placed on administrative leave by the police board on August 18, 2016.

Some information related to evidence was not received until the last week of April 2017 and as a result the investigation was only completed yesterday, police said.

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In a news release from the Bridgewater Board of Police Commissioners, chairman Patrick Cappello said the board met Thursday evening to discuss the charges and has moved to suspend Collyer with pay, for a period of 60 days in accordance with Section 67 of the Nova Scotia Police Act.

It goes on to say with the matter scheduled to go before the courts June 14, the board has no further comment on the investigation or the charges.

–With files from Sean Previl, Global News