Nine Ottawa police officers have been reassigned from active duty as a result of an investigation into the issuing of unsubstantiated warning tickets.
The officers allegedly issued falsified traffic warnings, or phantom tickets, without just cause.
The internal investigation began last November, and was prompted by the Sept. 30 suspension with pay of Const. Edward Ellis, after a large amount of provincial violation warnings were found in his cruiser.
Const. Peter Dawson was subsequently suspended Feb. 1, after more warnings, issued by himself and Const. Ellis, were found in his possession.
In a press release issued Feb. 8, Chief Charles Bordeleau said evidence found in the audit has implicated nine officers, now on administrative work. No other specifics about the officers in question have been released. Those officers will remain in administrative positions as the investigation continues.
“While warning tickets do not carry a monetary fine,” says Bordeleau in the release, “issuing warnings in the absence of an offence is a serious issue and it is being addressed.”
It is unknown why the punitive action is different for the nine officers moved to administrative duty, compared to the two who were suspended.
Read the Ottawa Police Services Press Release.