Hamilton cop blames daughter, 12, for false benefit claims

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A Hamilton Police sergeant has pleaded guilty to falsifying benefit claims.

Jason Howard, a 27 year veteran, gave the plea to one count of discreditable conduct at this morning’s Police Act hearing.

In his statement of fact, Howard admitted to filing a number of fraudulent health benefit claims from January of 2013 through October of the same year. All of the false claims were for chiropractic and physio services and totalled less than a thousand dollars.

When questioned by investigators, Howard admitted to blaming his 12 year old daughter for accessing his account and filing the claims. Investigators later proved most of the claims had been filed from Howard’s computer at hamilton police services.

Howard’s lawyer Bernard Cummins told CHCH News, despite his guilty plea, Howard will explain his side of the story when the hearing resumes later this fall. “We have an opportunity to give our explanation when we arrive at the disposition hearing and we intend to do that. It may appear ugly now, but we will have an explanation and we intend to give our explanation in front of the hearing officer.”

“The hearing officer needs to hear what the evidence is on that point and listen to submissions and come to an informed decision after he’s heard from the defence perspective. I simply say what appears to be ugly has an explanation and we’ll give it to the hearing officer when we return in October.”

Penalty submissions could range from a fine to full dismissal. In the meantime Howard remains suspended with pay.