Disgraced officer kicked from TPS

After a number of hearings and months of consideration, Steve Lapointe has been kicked off the Timmins Police Service.

This, after pleading guilty to discreditable conduct (under Police Services Act) stemming from incidents involving his common law girlfriend.  Lapointe previously pled guilty to domestic assault and uttering threats.

Lapointe’s lawyer Joanne Mulcahy was asking for a demotion to 2nd Class Constable for a year as punishment.

Lindsay McAllister is the Residential Program Manager for Her Place, a program within the Timmins and Area Women in Crisis Centre.  She says the decision gives the centre confidence going forward in working with police officers.

“It’s very important that women in this community feel safe to be able to call the police services, if that is a report they want to make,” McAllister said.

“We feel justice was served today, and we’re very pleased with the outcome.”

McAllister mentions they were “a little heartbroken” over the verdict in the Jian Ghomeshi trial, but today’s decision “feels a lot better.”

“That’s a really nice feeling working in this field because unfortunately, we don’t get those feelings very often.”

Meantime, Police Chief John Gauthier says he agrees with the decision made by Hearing Officer Terence Kelly, but adds there’s still work to be done to regain the public’s confidence.

“I’m not done in that regard, but certainly I think (this decision) probably assisted me to achieve that,” he said.

Gauthier adds every person in the community holds the police to a high regard.

“They expect perfection,” he said, “They expect as close as we certainly can to being perfect.  No one is, however we are asked to always remain professional on and off the job.”

You can read the full statement Kelly read in court HERE.  The document includes all factors involved in the case, and what led to the final decision.