Off-duty OPP groom interfered with arrest of wedding guest

Police brutality is the wanton use of excessive force, usually physical, but potentially in the form of verbal attacks and psychological intimidation, by a police officer. Widespread police brutality exists in many countries, even those that prosecute it. It is one of several forms of police misconduct, which include: false arrest, intimidation, racial profiling, political repression, surveillance abuse, sexual abuse and police corruption.

Off-duty OPP groom interfered with arrest of wedding guest

Postby Thomas » Mon Sep 06, 2021 11:09 am

You would think the off-duty cop would have better things to do on his wedding night.

Instead, his interference in the criminal investigation of one of his wedding guests — and then lying about it — has led to an 18-month demotion that was just upheld on appeal.

ccording to the notice of hearing, Caledon OPP Const. Stephen Krull was off-duty to celebrate his nuptials in the early hours of Sunday May 14, 2017 when he called two different colleagues to insert himself into their impaired driving investigation of a wedding guest.

After learning that one of his friends had been arrested, Krull called the investigating officer at the Caledon detachment: “Hey, it’s Krull, you have my buddy there, can you make this a three-day?”

The officer would have been referring to a roadside three-day licence suspension that comes with failing a field sobriety test or registering in the “warn” range — a far lighter penalty than if found guilty of impaired driving care and control.

Krull was also accused of phoning a second officer who was at the scene: “Hey it’s Krull, it’s Stephen Krull, you’ve got my friend there, what’s going on?” he asked.

“Hey, can’t you just make this into a three-day and let him go, he was just at my wedding and he is a good friend, c’mon just help him out, a favour.”

Krull also asked what the grounds for arrest were and provided the name of a ‘lawyer’ to the investigating officer.

The number, though, was for his brother-in-law — who is not a lawyer.

“PC Krull interfered with a criminal investigation and his actions may negatively impact the outcome,” read the amended notice of hearing.

Krull was also accused of behaving badly when he went to the Caledon detachment to lock up a large amount of his wedding cash without authorization to do so.

“Krull yelled ‘I am taking my f—ing money,'” the notice stated.

“PC Krull forcibly shoved open the secure door area and stormed across the front foyer.

“Krull was observed ‘making a scene’ and being quite loud in aggression and display. PC Krull’s demeanor at the detachment was less than professional.”

When the incidents were investigated by Professional Standards, Krull denied leaning on any OPP officers or asking for any kind of favours.

He also denied providing a lawyer’s phone number or interfering in the police investigation.

The meddling groom was charged with discreditable conduct and deceit for lying about it to investigators.

At his 2020 hearing, Krull pleaded guilty to discreditable conduct for his behaviour at the Caledon detachment when he was “inappropriately slamming doors and swearing,” but denied the other charges.

He claimed someone else had been impersonating him and had called the two officers involved in the impaired investigation.

The hearing officer, Supt. K.M. Bickerton, believed the witnesses who identified his voice and found Krull “lacking in credibility and reliability.”

And this man remains a police officer?

According to Bickerton, Krull then lied to investigators and even provided his motive for doing so when he told them he was still “working off hours” from a previous disciplinary matter and “wanted to keep his nose clean.”

On May 1, 2020, Krull was found guilty of discreditable conduct and deceit under Ontario’s Police Act.

He was demoted from first to second class constable for 18 months and required to complete a training course.

Krull appealed to the Ontario Civilian Police Commission, arguing the hearing officer was biased and made legal errors in finding him guilty.

In a decision this week, the panel disagreed: Krull “seeks, in many ways to re-litigate the hearing. We find no basis to disturb the Hearing Officer’s findings of guilt.”

Leaving the groom probably regretting that he wasn’t attending to other pursuits that night.

mmandel@postmedia.com

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