Nottawasaga OPP officer is demoted over Taser incidents

[Michael Jack]

ORILLIA - A Nottawasaga OPP officer will be temporarily demoted after pleading guilty to discreditable conduct for using a Taser in two separate incidents of horseplay with his fellow police officers.

A hearing held Wednesday at the Orillia OPP headquarters ended with Sgt. Eric Steele, a 17-year veteran, being demoted to first class constable for six months for his actions. His salary will also be clawed back to reflect the demotion.

Several factors were weighed into the decision, including the officer’s otherwise stellar service record with the organization, along with his willingness to bring the matter to an end.

“I can see that you are an officer that has had a lapse of judgment,” said adjudicator Insp. Stuart McDonald during his closing comments after the ruling.

“The organization certainly does take it seriously and it’s intolerable that you would misuse use of force,” he added.

Steele admitted to using an electrified weapon in two separate incidents, the details of which were revealed in a joint statement of agreed facts. At the hearing, Steele also expressed remorse over his actions.

“To say that I’m embarrassed and shamed of my current position does not begin to describe my feelings,” Steele said. “The fact that my inappropriate behaviour allowed me as an individual the opportunity to publicly, and in the media, hurt the reputation of my fellow officers at the detachment and the force for which I’ve diligently served for the past 17 years, pains me greatly.”

The most recent incident Steele was involved in took place last year around Oct. 14 at the Nottawasaga detachment in Alliston.

According to the statement, Steele lost his cool in the office area after a group of four other officers started teasing him and mocking his voice.

“The officers in the constables’ area were bantering back and forth and joking around,” said OPP prosecutor Insp. Charles Young. “They began to tease Sgt. Steele. The teasing was in reference to a specific voice and sound that Sgt. Steele makes when he is speaking.”

He asked one of the officers to stop, but the laughter and joking continued and he left the office in frustration. That’s when he pulled out the weapon.

“Sgt. Steele questioned (the constable) as to who was making the sounds to mimic him,” Young said. “He unholstered his conducted energy weapon, commonly referred to a CEW from his duty belt. He removed the cartridge from the CEW and placed it into his pants.”

Steele walked over to the constable and used the weapon on him. Even though the weapon’s cartridge was removed, it was still capable of delivering a shock.

“Sgt. Steele proceeded to drive stun (the constable) on his upper left leg,” Young said. “(The constable) immediately stepped back away from Sgt. Steele.”

The horseplay continued and Steele threatened to stun another officer, even though he later admitted he had no intention to do so.

The constable backed away from Steele and said “if he ever pulled his Taser on him again, he would break his arm.”

The second incident happened almost six years ago in the summer of 2006 during a night shift at the detachment’s extended satellite office in Angus. Steele was the acting sergeant working with three other constables.

At some point during the shift he started teasing and rough housing with a female officer.

“The verbal exchange between the two escalated into a playful wrestling match,” Young said.

Steele placed the other constable into a headlock, but she freed herself by striking him on the inside of his thigh. She then knocked him on the ground, ran to her police cruiser and locked herself inside.

Steele got up, approached the driver side door and pulled out his Taser.

“Acting Sgt. Steele pursued (the constable) back to the police vehicle,” Young said. “(She) locked herself in the vehicle and made gestures towards acting Sgt. Steele. Acting Sgt. Steele then pulled out his CEW and activated against the driver side window.”

The female constable wasn’t injured since the glass insulated her from the charge. Steele then made use of his pepper spray.

“After the deployment of the CEW, acting Sgt. Steele deployed his pepper spray in the area at the base of the police vehicle’s windshield and venting system by the wiper blades,” Young said.

The incident was never reported to a supervisor or manager.

At the hearing, Steele said the entire ordeal has taken a toll on him in many ways, especially for his family. He admitted his conduct was inexcusable.

“The actions that have been brought here are unacceptable and I offer no excuse or attempt at justification. I more than realize I went to far in what started as playful banter,” he said. “I can assure you I will not be before this tribunal again.”

http://www.simcoe.com/news/police/artic ... -incidents

[Michael Jack]

Altercation took place at the Alliston detachment

ALLISTON – An internal police investigation is underway after a Nottawasaga OPP sergeant used a Taser on a junior officer during a recent dispute at the force’s detachment, according to information obtained by the Toronto Star.

The incident allegedly took place after the weapon was used on the officer Friday, Oct. 14 in what’s been described as an “emotionally charged dispute.”

According to police spokesperson Insp. Dave Ross with OPP Central Region Headquarters in Orillia, more than two officers were involved, however he wouldn’t confirm if the Taser was actually fired.

He said the officers weren’t injured.

“It was unholstered by a member in the presence of other uniformed members during an interaction,” Ross said. “We haven’t said whether it was used or not, that’s part of the investigation.”

A Taser is an electroshock weapon used to temporarily subdue suspects with a sudden blast of electricity. Used correctly, Tasers are unlikely to cause permanent injuries.

Key details, like the names of the officers or their length of service are being withheld now that an investigation into the incident has been started by the OPP’s Professional Standards Bureau.

Depending on the outcome, charges could be laid against the officer, which would result in a public hearing. But unless a public hearing is called, he said under the Police Services Act, the officers' identities will remain protected.

Depending on what the investigation reveals, he said disciplinary action might also be taken, but didn’t say what that could be.

“I’m reluctant to provide descriptive details (about the officers) that could inadvertently lead to their identification given the detachment isn’t very big.”

To sort out what happened, he said police will interview other staff members who were at the detachment during the incident. Ross couldn’t say if investigators are working with security footage.

It’s expected the investigation could be completed by the end of November. Until then, he said the investigation has to run its course before further action can be taken. He said the OPP is known for its strict, professional standards, and that this “isolated incident” doesn’t speak for the majority of its members.

“I don’t think there is any reason for the public to be concerned,” he said. “We expect our officers to be professional at all times, and they are accountable to the public, to our own service…we hold them accountable to that as well. This is an isolated incident.”

Earlier today, Nottawasaga OPP Staff Sgt. Tim Melanson said the detachment won’t comment on the altercation since the investigation is being handled by Central Region.

Nottawasaga OPP services three municipalities: The Town of New Tecumseth, along with the townships of Adjala-Tosorontio and Essa.

New Tecumseth Mayor Mike MacEachern chairs the Nottawasaga Police Services Board (PSB).

In an email reply, MacEachern said he had only learned of the incident this morning.

He said the board was never made aware of the altercation either, even though the PSB is usually kept in the loop regarding these matters. He said it's too early in the investigation to offer comment.

"Each month we are kept informed at the Police Services Board generally if there are any disciplinary investigations happening in the detachment and the outcome of those investigations," he said.

"When the facts are known in this case I may have further comment but at present it is currently under investigation and I think it would be unfair to leap to any conclusions."

OPP Association president Jim Christie told The Star the association will likely provide legal representation for both officers, since neither holds a senior management rank.

- with files from Torstar News Service

http://www.simcoe.com/article/1233831-- ... fellow-cop