Hearings for two cops on hold until charges resolved

Source:The Hamilton Spectator
(Apr 17, 2010)
Disciplinary hearings for two Hamilton police constables charged with discreditable conduct under the Police Services Act have been put on hold until criminal charges against them are resolved in court.

The hearings were put put off at a hearing at the central police station yesterday.

Constable Shawn Smith is facing three counts of discreditable conduct under the Police Services Act in connection with incidents between October and Dec. 6 last year, for which he also faces criminal assault charges.

Those charges involve an assault on another person.

Smith is also facing three more counts under the Police Services Act including two counts of insubordination for alleged misuse of police resources on two occasions in November and December last year and one count of breach of confidence.

In a separate and unrelated hearing, a Police Services Act charge of discreditable conduct against Constable Brian Smith (no relation) were also put on hold pending the outcome of criminal charges in connection with alleged harassment and threatening of another person.

Both constables have been informed the Hamilton Police Service may seek their demotion or dismissal.

Hearing the police conduct charges will resume with 14 days notice after criminal charges have been dealt with.