Peel police constable awarded Ontario Medal of Bravery facing assault charges

A longtime constable with Peel Regional Police is facing two counts of assault and was suspended without pay, the force announced on Tuesday.

Peel police say the charges were laid after an investigation into an alleged off-duty assault outside the region.

Const. Jason Beccario is facing two counts of assault.

Per the Ontario Police Services Act, Peel police said Const. Beccario was suspended with pay.

Beccario will appear in a Brampton court at a later date. The force said a Police Services Act hearing would be held following the criminal proceedings.

Charged constable won Ontario Medal of Bravery in April

Beccario was one of two officers awarded an Ontario Medal of Bravery in April.

Beccario and another Peel police constable were recognized “for their professionalism, confidence in their training, and ability to control a chaotic event” during a shootout in Brampton in 2016.

Peel police said one suspect was “uncooperative, resisted de-escalation efforts and attempted to assault the officers.”

When Beccario and the other officer attempted to arrest the man, he pulled out a gun and fired at the constable.

Constable Manikosh Pathak (second from left) and Constable Jason Beccario were honoured with the Ontario Medal of Bravery in April 2022. Photo: Peel police.

“As constable Beccario and constable [Manikosh] Pathak drew their firearms, the suspect fired several more shots at the officers,” a spokesperson for Peel police said in an April 2022 news release.

“Despite multiple attempts to shoot and kill them, Officers Pathak and Beccario displayed incredible courage and dedication in protecting the community by continuing to pursue the fleeing suspect while under fire as additional officers arrived on the scene.”

The suspect was eventually apprehended and charged with attempted murder.