Ottawa constables plead guilty for issuing fake traffic warnings

Three Ottawa Police Service constablescould face temporary demotions after pleading guilty to charges under the Police Services Act for issuing false traffic warnings.

Sean Ralph, Trevor Gunsolus and Paul Laforest all entered guilty pleas at separate disciplinary hearings Monday afternoon.

• 11 Ottawa police officers investigated over false traffic warnings
• Ottawa police officer admits peer pressure influenced false traffic warnings

Ralph pleadedguilty to two counts of discreditable conduct and one count of insubordination, while Gunsolus pleadedguilty to two counts of discreditable conduct.

Laforest pleadedguilty to a single count of discreditable conduct.

Drivers disputed warnings

While the specifics of the individual incidents differ, generally the officers would pull over drivers for legitimateoffences like speeding, or failing to obey a traffic signand issue tickets, according to three separate agreed statements of facts.

They would then enter warnings into the police service's databasefor additional offences,like failing to show an insurance card or having a partially-obscured license plate.

However, an OPS internal investigation revealedthe officers' duty books failed to show whether those warning ticketswere actually handed out to the ticketed drivers.

As well, multiple drivers told investigatorsthey never received the warnings entered in the database, according to the statements.

Laforest'scharge related to warnings issued during one traffic stop, while Gunsolus was charged with issuing fraudulentwarnings on three different occasions.

The OPS internalinvestigation revealed issues with seven of Ralph's traffic stops. It also found general problems with his notemakingpractices.

The constables' questionable traffic stops all took place in 2016.

Three different OPS prosecutors each said Monday that the constables' actions had, in the eyes of the public, "tarnished" the force's reputation.

At least 7 officers convicted

Warning tickets provide police with arecord ofdrivers who have violated road rules. Theydon't carrya fine.

The OPS's professional standards section launched theirinternal investigation in November 2015 after 11 officers were accused of falsely boosting their warning ticket numbers.

The investigation has caused the force to re-evaluate its use of an officer's ticket statistics in giving promotions, Ottawa police Chief Charles Bordeleautold CBC Newsearlier this year.

So far, at least seven Ottawa police officers have been convictedunder the Police Services Act in connection with the warning ticket investigation.

Ralph, Gunsolus and Laforestnow face temporary demotions to second-class constable for nine months, four months, and six weeks, respectively.

It's expected the disciplinary actions will be meted outat hearings scheduled forFebruary.