Police Chief losing 5 days pay, found guilty of dicredible conduct.

Timmins Police Chief John Gauthier is facing the music for cancelling two tickets earlier this year.
Gauthier was found guilty of dicredible conduct for cancelling tickets issued to former City Councillor Gary Scripnick for not stopping at a red light and for not having the right insurance.

For cancelling the tickets, Gauthier is forfeiting five days of pay or $3,300.

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“It’s been a two-year ordeal for me personally, and my family.”

That was Timmins Police Chief John Gauthier after two years of hearings, criticism, lots of media attention and everything else this situation has thrown at him.

His guilty plea for discredible conduct has been heard, and his fate is now in the hands of the Ontario Civilian Police Commission (OCPC).

Gauthier says he understands where the media comes from in having to report the facts, despite others testifying that the case has been “sensationalized” in the news.

He says that’s what made it so tough that he couldn’t say anything.

“Now, the evidence has come forward and you’ve reported on it,” he said, “I understand where the media was coming from, and I respect it.  I would’ve hoped the process itself would’ve been done much quicker because certainly, two years is a long haul.”

Part of the hearing revolved around a Standing Order that was put into place by former Chief Denis Lavoie in 2001.  The order says nobody could cancel the tickets unless there was a valid reason and by going through the court process.

“I can tell you had I found that Standing Order that was alluded to earlier, this thing could have been resolved much much sooner,” said Gauthier.

His lawyer Ian Johnstone adds “by the stroke of a pen, this Chief could have repealed that Standing Order, but he was simply not aware of it as everybody else was.”

But Gauthier found it and took accountability for the technical violation.

“That speaks volumes to me for the integrity of Chief Gauthier,” he said.

Overall, Johnstone says the hearing was all about getting the truth out.

“There’s been a lot of controversy, a lot of media review on this and a lot of the facts were not known to the public,” he said.

“This was an opportunity for it to be transparent and for everything to come out in respect to what happened with the Chief, what happened with former councillor (Gary) Scripnick, what city council knew and what took place at the traffic light.”

The intersection of Lafleur Drive and Shirley Street lights run on a motion sensor.  The hearing learned it could take “hours” for the light to change if someone didn’t approach it properly.

This was the second investigation into Gauthier’s conduct.  The first was done by the OPP, who it seems revealed nothing to the media or anyone for that matter.

Gauthier says he didn’t get any formal notice.  He got the information by a phone call through his previous lawyer.  Gauthier wanted to confirm with the OPP Commissioner by sending him a series of emails.

He was referred back to the Ministry of the Attorney General, after the OPP told him no media release would be coming out.

“Clearly, I was disappointed,” Gauthier said of that decision.

“But again, who am I to second guess the OPP Commissioner.  He must’ve had reasons for taking the position that he did but for me personally, it was a little troubling.”

Nonetheless, the OCPC will look over all the evidence and make a decision.  That decision, according to OCPC adjudicator Zahra Dhanani, usually takes no longer than three months.

She says once the transcripts are looked over, they’ll try and come to a decision on Gauthier’s punishment as soon as they can.

Johnstone is recommending a reprimand (a formal verbal warning), while Crown lawyer Victoria Kondo is looking for something a little more.  She recommends a 10-day punishment (three days of forfeited pay and seven days off).

Whatever that punishment may be, it will be respected by Chief Gauthier.

He admits there will be critics out there, but moving forward, he says he’s received a lot of support locally and from outside Timmins.

Professionally, Gauthier says it’s “business as usual.”

“I believe I maintained my professionalism throughout this entire two years.  I continue to lead the Police Service, working alongside the men and women of the Timmins Police Service, and I’m committed to that,” he said.