‘Suspension without pay’ request passed by Ont. police chiefs

Hamilton’s chief of police is one step closer to having the discretionary power to suspend officers without pay for serious misconduct. Glenn De Caire brought this request before the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police today where it was supported.

Changes may soon be coming for Hamilton’s police service, and police services across the province. Currently, chiefs have the power to suspend officers without pay for serious criminal offences, but De Caire is requesting the scope to be even broader.

“This resolution today expands that request to include serious police service act matters where the chief would be seeking the dismissal of an officer,” said DeCaire over the phone.

The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police passed the resolution which was also unanimously supported by Hamilton’s police services board and city council, the first municipality in Ontario to do so. De Caire says while the majority of officers won’t abuse the discipline process, there still needs to be measures in place for the ones who do.

“We don’t believe officers charged with offences that are off duty, unrelated to performance off duty, should be paid by the taxpayer,” said De Caire.

Chief De Caire says this is an issue that can cost taxpayers up to $500,000 a year, money that would be better spent putting officers back on the streets.

In the past, a number of Hamilton Police officers have been suspended with pay, including inspector David Doel, who collected almost $600,000 in four years off the job.

“It has to be very serious crimes where the chief would exercise that right to suspend without pay, once it goes through a review or trial, if that officer is innocent full pay and benefits are reinstated retroactive,” said De Caire.

But the police union is raising questions about the use of discretionary authority.

“I have concerns with that decision making being left to the chief…I would like them to define what’s a serious offence,” said Mike Thomas, president of the Hamilton Police Association.

However, De Caire says measures are in place to make sure it’s a fair process.

“The officers should have a built-in protection to have decision reviewed by outside body that builds in protection audit, control, justification. No concern in making the decision and have it reviewed by an outside body,” he said.

Final approval to amend the police service act will now go before the provincial government.

Chief De Caire says this is about finding a balance of fairness between the community, the service, and its officers. Ontario is actually the last province in Canada to give this authority to its police chiefs.