Hamilton cop retires, escapes charges

(Updated)

One of the most outrageous and protracted legal proceedings in Hamilton’s history came to a sudden end Wednesday morning — not in a hearing room, but through the hollow echo of a telephone line. Former Inspector David Doel is no longer a member of the Hamilton Police Service.

It’s a story that will bring no comfort to the taxpayers of Ontario — nor to the administrators of the 27 police services, that operate across the province. They all seem to agree that change is needed, but many doubt that it will ever come:

Former Police inspector David Doel has been off the job — but on the payroll — since October 2009. In that time he collected more than half a million dollars in salary — while prosecutors tried to deal with 13 charges of misconduct under the police services act. That effort came to a formal conclusion this morning —

Lynda Bordeleau, Hamilton police said: “In light of the officer’s status as being retired, I would ask that you stay — issue a stay of proceedings for the notice of hearing.”

David Doel retired two days ago — six months shy of a “full” police service pension — but still with a pension none-the-less. And, in accordance with the current provincial law, all charges against him have been dropped.

Chief De Caire: “We did everything within our power and within the law, to move the process along.”

Chief Glenn De Caire has been lobbying to change that law. Asking the province to establish a mechanism where police officers facing either criminal — or serious Police Act allegations, could be suspended without pay: “That law did not support the timely resolution of this matter. That’s the piece that we all find frustrating.”

Chief Stephen Tanner is the former president of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, and a current member of their board: “A bad police officer — and there are some — can do irreparable damage to a service or to the profession and we ought to have ways to deal with it.”

But there are some big obstacles in the way: “I think the biggest stumbling block is the government. The government of Ontario is very reluctant to make decisions that are going to be controversial in any way.”

And it would certainly be controversial among the roughly 30-thousand police officers who work in this province — and are reluctant to change the status quo.

Chief Tanner: “The Police Services Act actually protects the members from the association — from the union perspective. So, why would you want to change that?”

Never-the-less, Tanner and De Caire both believe that changes can be made that will balance the protections of due process for police officers — with the need to protect the public purse from needless abuse. But getting there — will not be either quick — nor easy:

Chief Tanner: “It is a difficult decision politically. I think it should be made. Politicians are paid to make difficult decisions, and not all based on what the next election might need.”

We did ask for some reaction from the Ontario government and its new community safety minister. They said any changes to the suspension with pay process would require changes to the legislation and passage in the Ontario legislature.