ON: Cop pleads guilty

[medpot]

The London Free Press

Letters to the Editor


Cop pleads guilty


By JOE BELANGER, The London Free Press

Last Updated: July 29, 2010 9:09am


A St. Thomas police officer has pleaded guilty to smoking marijuana while off-duty and will be sentenced at a hearing Thursday.

Const. Beverley Brennan, a seven-year veteran charged with two counts of discreditable conduct, pleaded guilty to both counts, which included the marijuana and unauthorized access of a police computer for "personal purposes."

Brennan has been suspended with pay since the Police Act charges were laid in early June.

The hearing was held at St. Thomas City Hall council chambers Wednesday.

Peel Regional Police Superintendent Frank Roselli is the hearing officer.

In a press release, Deputy Police Chief Darrell Pinnell said Brennan addressed Roselli and "apologized for the discredit she has brought to the Police Service, her colleagues, profession, friends, family, and the community."

In joint submission to Roselli, her lawyer and the police service recommend Brennan be demoted to the rank of 3rd class constable for six months and 2nd class constable for another six months before returning to her full rank of 1st class constable "providing she receives a suitable performance evaluation and is free from further discipline."

Roselli is to make a decision on sentencing tonight. The sentence can range from an unpaid suspension to demotion or even firing.

The hearing resumes at 7 p.m.

[SteveG]

I would say "poor woman" except, she is a cop and where most of us would lose our job and be charged, she gets a paid vacation ... boo hoo

I do feel a degree of sympathy for her because i know the marijuana did not interfere with the performance of her job ... I just hate her job.

[Herb Roach]

cops are people to.
I must say I laughed when I read "In joint submission to Roselli,"
I guess she had to submit her joints to this Roselli person? ! ?
Thats worse then the demotion.

[Herb Roach]

I just noticed SteveG ,, this little icon thingy looks a little like you

[medpot]

Surely a good candidate for POLCOA!

She could probably appeal her case and change her plea to innocent if she finds out about POLCOA?

Wouldn't it be cool if POLCOA would make a first in our medias throughout our country because a "cop" proved that our marijuana laws are still unconstitutional and dead?

Marc

[medpot]

The Toronto Sun

Letters to the Editor: torsun.editor@sunmedia.ca


Pot smoking cop gets demoted



By PATRICK BRENNAN, QMI Agency

Last Updated: August 6, 2010 5:34am


ST. THOMAS, Ont. - A St. Thomas police constable who smoked marijuana off the job and used a police computer to run background checks on someone with whom she was involved in a relationship, was handed a one-year demotion Thursday at a disciplinary hearing.

Supt. Frank Roselli of Peel Regional Police, who presided at the hearing, agreed with a joint submission by both lawyers in sentencing Const. Beverley Brennan, 36, a seven-year veteran of the force.

Brennan pleaded guilty July 28 to two charges of discreditable conduct under the Police Service Act. Evidence showed she was among a group of women who were using drugs at a ringette tournament in Guelph, March 27 and 28.

The second charge related to her using a police computer April 6, 7, 8 and 10 to access the Canadian Police Information Centre and other confidential databases to perform background checks on someone with whom she was involved in a relationship.

The penalty, effective Friday, means Brennan will be demoted from a first-class constable to third class for six months and to a second-class constable for another six months.

With a clean record after the year, Brennan can be elevated back to first-class constable. The penalties mean a loss of about $10,000 in salary for Brennan.

In determining the sentence, Roselli indicated he was relying heavily both on submissions from counsel and case-law on how other police officers had been punished for similar convictions.

Roselli noted Brennan had no police record for disciplinary infractions and was no longer involved with the person related to the background checks.

The penalty would provide both an appropriate deterrent to others and a denunciation of the event, Roselli said, quoting submissions from counsel.

Roselli said it's clear from case law there is a wide deviation in how police services dealt with infractions involving the inappropriate use of police computers.

"The St. Thomas Police Service strives to build a reputation for

ethics and behaviour," Roselli said. "The hard work in trying to reach those goals can be undermined by the misconduct of one."

Roselli noted in this case, drug addiction was not an issue and that there was no evidence Brennan supplied drugs to anyone else.

He also noted Brennan's use of the police computer was to satisfy personal curiosities.

He credited Brennan for being co-operative in the investigation, pleading guilty at the first opportunity, and showing remorse.

"I'm satisfied she is truly remorseful," Roselli said.

[dld0122]

I guess Beverly is just the poor bitch that got caught.

I mean, really.....we're talking about pot here. I know of health-care professionals that are weekend-warriors partying it up with coke, oxy's etc. They're just a bit smarter I guess......using substances that can be flushed out quickly.

And....the using police computer to look up someone she's dating? Gimme a break.....I'm sure there are plenty of pervs in there that used the computer for far fucking worse!!!

Herb Roach: glad I'm not the only one that had a healthy chuckle at their choice of wording.
**Must get thesaurus**