Suspended Ottawa police officers continue to make Sunshine list in 2015

Officers suspended with pay in the Ottawa Police Service cost more than half a million dollars in salaries last year. 

The oldest suspension dates back to December 2011, which means that officer has been receiving a full salary since then, aside from a brief five-month reinstatement between hearing processes in 2014. 

The average salary for a police officer in Ontario is $90,000, however, four of the six suspensions in Ottawa involve salaries on the Ontario Sunshine List which lists salaries above $100,000 a year. 

• Suspension: Dec. 2011, salary unknown.
• Suspension: June 2012, salary 2015: $109,935.64.
• Suspension Feb 2013, salary 2015: $111,964.28.
• Suspension Oct. 2014, salary 2015 unknown.
• Suspension Sept. 2015, salary 2015: $110,664.48.
• Suspension Nov. 2015, salary 2015: $106,809.17.

"I think its one of those things where we ask, at what point do we stop," said the Ottawa Police Service's executive officer in charge of professional standards, Insp. Chris Rheaume. "They're appealing and appealing and at what point is enough enough." 

They're appealing and appealing and at what point is enough enough.- Inspector Chris Rheaume

Suspended officer receiving pay since sentencing

He notes the case of Ottawa police Sgt. Rohan Beebakhee who has been suspended with pay since June 2012. Beebakhee was found guilty in an internal disciplinary hearing in 2014 of insubordination, corrupt practices and deceit. 

The sergeant was ordered to resign within seven days or face dismissal after his sentencing hearing. 

The sentencing decision stated: "The extent of [his] conduct was to such a degree that the suitability of him remaining an officer in this police service has been nullified. He denied his oath of office and neither this police service, nor the community it serves can or will condone or tolerate a law enforcement officer acting in the manner prescribed here."

Beebakee appealed the decision and his process continues, as does his salary, listed as $109,935.64 on the Ontario Sunshine list. 

Bordeleau lobbying for change

Rheaume said Ottawa Police Chief Charles Bordeleau has been lobbying alongside several other Chiefs of Police in Ontario for a change in the provincial rules. 

They would like to see similar rules to other provinces in Canada, which give their chiefs of police discretion to decide whether a suspended officer will continue to receive pay. But according to the Ontario Police Services Act officers continue to receive salaries unless they face a jail sentence. 

Rheaume said the optics for the public and for other officers is a concern. "The salaries are printed in news [that this officer] gets $100,000 and he's still getting paid, and yet he's years involved in a judicial process."

Whole system needs reform: Ottawa Police Association 

But the president of the Ottawa Police Association said the real problem is the time it takes to get through the disciplinary process with a fair hearing.

Matt Skof said "on a default side you may have people upset that they were paid, but at least there's still the presumption of innocence."  

This week, after the Toronto Police Service moved to suspend four officers under allegations of planting evidence and lying in court, Premier, Kathleen Wynne weighed into the issue, suggesting the Ontario government is considering the change. 

A CBC investigation found 50 Ontario police officers are currently on suspension. Altogether police services in Ontario will pay $4.5 million in salaries for those officers this year.