Published on: November 9, 2015 | Last Updated: November 9, 2015 7:00 PM EST
Ottawa police have launched a widespread internal investigation into
an allegation that fake traffic warnings were issued to falsify internal
statistics, the Citizen has learned.
At least one traffic escort officer has been suspended and as many as 10 officers are subjects in the internal probe in which police are investigating their own.
Const. Edward Ellis was suspended with pay Sept. 30 after what multiple sources have called a “stack” of provincial offence notices was found in his police cruiser by another officer. It’s not known how many notices were in the cruiser when they were discovered, but both the officer copies and the versions that should have been given to the motorists who were warned were found.
Police are now conducting an audit of all provincial offence notice numbers generated. The time frame the audit encompasses was not immediately known.
Initially alleged to be the misconduct of one officer, the probe has now grown to investigate whether the alleged practice is rampant and “systemic” among other officers, sources said.
The notices alleged to have been found in Ellis’s cruiser were believed to have all been warnings, which are distinct from tickets.
Warnings, which are printed citations, and tickets, which carry a fine or penalty, are weighted equally for statistical purposes. No revenue comes from warnings — they are used for public education and for internal stats only.
Those statistics, which rank officers, are used as an internal measure both by officers seeking transfers or promotions in the force and by the unit as a whole to measure its efforts and successes.
A provincial offence notice number is generated for each infraction, but warnings require no follow up. While police issue them frequently, the recipient is not expected to do anything but change their driving behaviour. Often, officers who use their discretion and decide not to ticket someone won’t even print out the warning and will instead choose to issue a verbal warning.
The professional standards section, which investigates alleged officer misconduct, confirmed Ellis’s suspension but would not offer information on what led to his suspension.
“I really want to impress upon you the absolute professionalism and respect these two young officers displayed through their dealings with our member and myself,” the letter writer said. “Constable Ellis … displayed the best qualities that police should have (that of empathy and compassion).”
Ellis was paid $110,664.48 in 2014, according to the province’s sunshine list for public servants.
syogaretnam@ottawacitizen.com
twitter.com/shaaminiwhy
At least one traffic escort officer has been suspended and as many as 10 officers are subjects in the internal probe in which police are investigating their own.
Const. Edward Ellis was suspended with pay Sept. 30 after what multiple sources have called a “stack” of provincial offence notices was found in his police cruiser by another officer. It’s not known how many notices were in the cruiser when they were discovered, but both the officer copies and the versions that should have been given to the motorists who were warned were found.
Police are now conducting an audit of all provincial offence notice numbers generated. The time frame the audit encompasses was not immediately known.
Initially alleged to be the misconduct of one officer, the probe has now grown to investigate whether the alleged practice is rampant and “systemic” among other officers, sources said.
The notices alleged to have been found in Ellis’s cruiser were believed to have all been warnings, which are distinct from tickets.
Warnings, which are printed citations, and tickets, which carry a fine or penalty, are weighted equally for statistical purposes. No revenue comes from warnings — they are used for public education and for internal stats only.
Those statistics, which rank officers, are used as an internal measure both by officers seeking transfers or promotions in the force and by the unit as a whole to measure its efforts and successes.
A provincial offence notice number is generated for each infraction, but warnings require no follow up. While police issue them frequently, the recipient is not expected to do anything but change their driving behaviour. Often, officers who use their discretion and decide not to ticket someone won’t even print out the warning and will instead choose to issue a verbal warning.
The professional standards section, which investigates alleged officer misconduct, confirmed Ellis’s suspension but would not offer information on what led to his suspension.
Chief Charles Bordeleau said he “cannot comment on any investigation that is taking place at this point in time.”
Traffic and road safety is one of the Bordeleau’s operational priorities.
“Rest assured, members of the public should continue to
have confidence in the work of the members of the Ottawa Police
Service.”
Bordeleau also said the force routinely conducts “proactive audits.”
Ellis, and another officer unrelated
to the traffic investigation, received a commendation letter in April
2009 for responding to a call for service involving a retired police
officer dealing with post traumatic stress disorder.“I really want to impress upon you the absolute professionalism and respect these two young officers displayed through their dealings with our member and myself,” the letter writer said. “Constable Ellis … displayed the best qualities that police should have (that of empathy and compassion).”
Ellis was paid $110,664.48 in 2014, according to the province’s sunshine list for public servants.
syogaretnam@ottawacitizen.com
twitter.com/shaaminiwhy
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