ocpcSix hours and nine testimonies later, the sentencing hearing for Timmins Police Chief John Gauthier will stretch over to Friday.

Former Timmins city councillor Gary Scripnick says he couldn’t imagine a malfunctioning traffic light would lead to all this.

He testified Thursday morning in front of the Ontario Civilian Police Commission’s Zahra Dhanani, and says he was adamant about looking at street lights in town, as the city pays a lot of money for them.

In regards to the long weekend in 2013, Scripnick went to the traffic light at Lafleur and Shirley Street and the lights did not change for quite some time.

“To a logical guy, it didn’t make any sense,” he said, adding it was frustrating to get a ticket for going through the red after discussing the matter with a nearby police officer.

This led to Scripnick asking Gauthier about the matter, although Scripnick said his intention was to make sure the lights were fixed.

He says he was initially happy to see the officer, as he had a less than pleasant encounter with one in 2012.

Scripnick described the scene, saying the officer didn’t give him the time of day and was very rude to him.

“He made me feel like a little old lady who just lost her husband,” he said, “I was destroyed.”

At that point, he went to Gauthier to talk about the officer’s conduct, and how the ticket was doubled.  The ticket was never withdrawn.

He’s not the only one that had an issue with the lights at Lafleur Drive and Shirley Street.

Police Sargeant Lorne Yee says he’s had personal and professional issues with the light in the past and even ran the red himself after waiting a long period of time.

He also testified, recalling a time where he pulled someone over at that same intersection for running the red.

Yee says based on his own dealings, he used discretion for a white female and let her drive away.

Earlier in the day, former Mayor Tom Laughren was brought up and was questioned on his past with the Police Services Board.

Jennifer Scott with the TPS Communications Centre stated she also had issues with the light.

Jason Brousseau with Porcupine Electric says the light is censored, and someone could sit at the light “for hours” without it changing.

Fire Chief Mike Pintar gave a look into the difference between councillors and department heads.  He referred to council as the ones who “steer the boat,” while the department heads “run the boat.”

A few others spoke to Gauthier’s character.  One being Rock Foy, the Director of HR at the City of Timmins.

He described Gauthier as having “high integrity and strong moral values,” as well as being “organized.”  When it comes to disputes, Foy says Gauthier approaches them with the ability to look at both sides of the story.

Councillor Mike Doody—who also serves on the Timmins Police Services Board—says he always looked at the Chief as supportive and feels no differently about Gauthier despite everything that has happened.

He says it’s “ludicrous” that people think Gauthier was giving Scripnick preferential treatment by withdrawing the two tickets he received in 2013.

Doody adds he knows Gauthier has taken a lot of heat from the public for this investigation.  Sentiments echoed by City CAO Joe Torlone soon after.

Torlone says there has been a lot of media attention to this investigation, and sometimes it was “sensationalized.”  He described Gauthier as “professional, forthright, (has) great integrity” and “has a strong will,” considering how long the investigation and hearings have taken.

It’s doubtful that Gauthier himself will have to speak, and will have to wait until Friday to learn his fate in the matter.