Convicted Cops: A closer look
Posted March 4, 2017 2:46 pm.
Last Updated March 4, 2017 3:58 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Raw data now shows details of the punishment and disciplinary decisions handed out to 59 police officers facing criminal convictions across the GTHA. CityNews has compiled data since 2013 highlighting the consequences that a police tribunal deemed fit for these officers from Toronto, Peel, York, Durham and Halton regions.
The offences range from fraud and sexual assault to domestic violence and child pornography. What has been uncovered is that, overwhelmingly, these police officers have kept their jobs. Only five of the 59 officers were dismissed from their police forces following their convictions.
In Toronto, of the 31 officers who had police tribunal hearings since 2013, two were fired. At least two did not face a disciplinary hearing before a police tribunal because they resigned prior to their hearing. One officer, who was convicted of assault, died by suicide before his assault case was heard.
The data also indicates most officers across all five regions faced criminal convictions stemming from driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Below is the list of the 59 police officers, including their force, conviction and tribunal decision.
TORONTO POLICE SERVICE
| CONVICTION | POLICE TRIBUNAL DECISION |
| ASSAULT | 15 DAY SUSPENSION |
| IMPAIRED DRIVING | DISMISSED FROM THE SERVICE |
| ASSAULT, MISCHIEF | 17 DAY SUSPENSION |
| IMPAIRED DRIVING | 20 DAY SUSPENSION |
| OVER 80 | 20 DAY SUSPENSION |
| IMPAIRED DRIVING | DEMOTION |
| OVER 80 | PENDING TRIBUNAL DECISION, ON THE JOB |
| ATTEMPT MURDER | PENDING TRIBUNAL DECISION, SUSPENDED WITHOUT PAY |
| VOYEURISM, CHILD PORNOGRAPHY, SEXUAL ASSAULT | RESIGNED PRIOR TO TRIBUNAL APPEARANCE |
| IMPAIRED DRIVING | 20 DAY SUSPENSION |
| ASSAULT | 5 DAY SUSPENSION |
| OVER 80 | DEMOTION |
| IMPAIRED DRIVING | DEMOTION |
| IMPAIRED DRIVING | DEMOTION |
| OVER 80 | 20 DAY SUSPENSION |
| ASSAULT | DISMISSED FROM THE SERVICE |
| IMPAIRED DRIVING | 20 DAY SUSPENSION |
| OVER 80 | 20 DAY SUSPENSION |
| ASSAULT | NO TRIBUNAL APPEARANCE, OFFICER DIED BY SUICIDE |
| WEAPONS | PENDING TRIBUNAL DECISION, CURRENTLY ON THE JOB |
| WEAPONS | 20 DAY SUSPENSION |
| ASSAULT | 15 DAY SUSPENSION |
| ASSAULT | TRIBUNAL DECISION STAYED DUE TO RESIGNATION |
| FAIL TO STOP | 10 DAY SUSPENSION |
| FAIL TO COMPLY | 13 DAY SUSPENSION |
| OVER 80 | DEMOTION |
| IMPAIRED DRIVING | PENDING TRIBUNAL DECISION, OFFICER HAS SUBMITTED RETIREMENT PAPERS |
| OVER 80 | PENDING TRIBUNAL DECISION, CURRENTLY ON THE JOB |
| OVER 80 | PENDING TRIBUNAL DECISION, CURRENTLY ON THE JOB |
| OVER 80 | PENDING TRIBUNAL DECISION, CURRENTLY ON THE JOB |
| OVER 80 | PENDING TRIBUNAL DECISION, CURRENTLY ON THE JOB |
HALTON REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE
| IMPAIRED DRIVING, 1 COUNT DISCREDITABLE CONDUCT | 1 YEAR DEMOTION FROM FIRST CLASS TO SECOND CLASS CONSTABLE |
| ASSAULT, 1 COUNT DISCREDITABLE CONDUCT | FORFEITURE OF 24 HOURS FROM THE OFFICER’S VACATION BANK |
| FRAUD, 2 COUNTS DISCREDITABLE CONDUCT | DEMOTION FROM FIRST CLASS CONSTABLE TO FOURTH CLASS; IF OFFICER REMAINS DISCIPLINE-FREE, ANNUAL GRADUATED REINSTATEMENT OF RANK BACK TO FIRST CLASS |
YORK REGIONAL POLICE
| FRAUD | DISMISSED FROM THE SERVICE |
| ASSAULT | DEMOTION |
| CARELESS STORAGE | DEMOTION |
| ASSAULT | DEMOTION |
| SEXUAL ASSAULT | UNPAID SUSPENSION |
| IMPAIRED DRIVING | DEMOTION |
| FRAUD | DEMOTION |
| FRAUD, PLED GUILTY TO AN INSURANCE ACT CHARGE | DEMOTION |
| SEXUAL ASSAULT | AWAITING TRIBUNAL DATE, CURRENTLY SUSPENDED WITHOUT PAY |
PEEL REGIONAL POLICE
| IMPAIRED OPERATIONS/OVER80 | DEMOTION IN RANK TO SECOND CLASS CONSTABLE FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR WITH THE OPPORTUNITY FOR REVIEW AFTER SIX MONTHS ON THE BASIS OF SATISFACTORY WORK PERFORMANCE. |
| OFFICER CHARGED WITH IMPAIRED CARE/CONTROL AND EXCESS BLOOD ALCOHOL | DEMOTION IN RANK FROM 1ST TO 2ND CLASS FOR TWELVE MONTHS – SUBJECT TO REVIEW AFTER SIX MONTHS BASED ON SATISFACTORY WORK PERFORMANCE ASSESSED BY THE DIVISIONAL COMMANDER. |
| CONTEMPT OF SUPERIOR COURT | DISMISSED FROM THE SERVICE |
| ASSAULT CONTRAARY TO THE CRIMINAL CODE OF CANADA | REDUCTION IN RANK FROM FIRST CLASS TO SECOND CLASS CONSTABLE FOR A PERIOD OF FOUR MONTHS |
| OFF-DUTY ASSAULT | SIX MONTH REDUCTION IN RANK FROM 1ST CLASS TO 2ND CLASS CONSTABLE WITH SATISFACTORY WORK PERFORMANCE REVIEW AFTER THREE MONTHS. |
| EXCESS BLOOD ALCOHOL | REDUCTION IN RANK FROM 1ST CLASS CONSTABLE TO 2ND CLASS CONSTABLE FOR A PERIOD OF SIX (6) MONTHS. |
| TWO COUNTS OF THREATENING | REFRAIN FROM ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION, SUBJECT TO RANDOM BREATHALYZER TESTS, CONTINUE WITH ADDICTION AFTERCARE AND ATTENDED AA TWICE A WEEK. |
| ATTEMPTED TO OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE AFTER HAVING BEEN CONVICTED OF IMPAIRED DRIVING | REDUCTION IN RANK FROM 1ST CLASS CONSTABLE TO 2ND CLASS CONSTABLE FOR A PERIOD OF THREE MONTHS. |
| DOMESTIC ASSAULT | DEMOTED |
| ASSAULT WHILE OFF DUTY | TERMINATED |
DURHAM REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE
| ASSAULT | DISMISSED FROM THE SERVICE |
| IMPAIRED OPERATION | 12 MONTH DEMOTION |
| ASSAULT | 2-YEAR DEMOTION |
| BREACH OF TRUST; CARELESS STORAGE OF A FIREARM | TRIBUNAL STILL IN PROCESS |
| IMPAIRED | 6 MONTH DEMOTION |
| IMPAIRED | 9 MONTH DEMOTION |
CONVICTED COPS: A CITYNEWS INVESTIGATION
CONVICTED COPS WHO KEEP THEIR JOBS
They’re carrying a badge and a gun but also a criminal record. A CityNews investigation reveals there are 59 police officers across the GTHA who have been convicted of serious crimes since 2013, and almost all of them have been deemed fit to keep their jobs in policing. The incidents vary in severity and scope, from impaired driving and fraud to domestic violence and assault. Each resulted in criminal charges, trial, and ultimately guilty verdicts. The vast majority of officers, however, maintained their jobs in policing despite those convictions. Click here for more.
SEARCHING FOR TRANSPARENCY
Assault. Domestic Assault. Fraud. Impaired Driving. Sexual Assault. These are charges you’ve likely heard of but often don’t associate with police officers. Of all the five regions, Peel Regional Police is the only force that posts tribunal decisions online, but they are removed from the force’s website after three months. York, Durham and Halton regions do not post any of their decisions online. Click here for more.
CONVICTED COP BREAKS HIS SILENCE
Const. Gary Gould is one of only two Toronto police officers in the last four years to lose their jobs after being convicted of a crime, in this case assault. Gould, now a civilian, told CityNews most of his 14 years with Toronto police were marred by untreated work-related mental health issues, which triggered a serious drinking problem. He broke his silence to share what he says happened in the moments, and the years, before the assault was caught on video. Click here for more.
