Manitoba's police watchdog says an off-duty Winnipeg police officer won't be charged in connection with a boating incident that left a child with a head injury.

The Independent Investigation Unit says the officer was operating a Sea-Doo that was pulling a tube with three kids on it in August when a boat crossed between them and the rope got entangled with its propeller.

An eight-year-old child needed eight stitches as a result of the incident.

The I-I-U says its investigation determined the officer was not at fault and that the driver of the boat was trying to deflect responsibility for the accident away from himself.