An Orillia OPP officer has been found guilty of assault causing bodily harm after choking and pinning a woman against cell bars during an arrest four years ago.
On Thursday, Justice John Olver said Const. Bailey Nicholls used excessive force during the arrest of a woman while removing her jewelry in a jail cell, resulting in her needing five stitches for her injuries.
On Sept. 7, 2019, OPP officers arrested a woman outside the Studabakers Beachside restaurant in Orillia for public intoxication and brought her to the Orillia OPP detachment.
She was asked to remove her jewelry in her holding cell as a routine precaution but found it difficult to remove her necklace due to her intoxicated state.
Court documents say she removed her earrings before attempting the necklace again.
An impatient Const. Nicholls intervened approximately one minute later, pulling on the chain, snapping and breaking it.
The court heard she then grabbed her throat while shoving her into the cell bars.
The woman was taken to hospital for treatment, requiring staples for her bloodied head.
The encounter was all captured on camera.
"As the commissioner has said, we know that it's troubling for everyone when a police officer is accused of and, in particular, convicted of a serious crime," said Bill Dickson, OPP Acting Media Relations manager. "The OPP is not only aware of this decision, we take it very seriously, and we value our relationships with our communities. We want to make sure that people know they can trust members of the OPP to uphold the law and preserve public safety."
Dickson said Const. Nicholls is currently on an "unrelated leave."
"We have seen some cases recently, and it is unfortunate, and we don't like it just as much as the public doesn't like it," Dickson added. "But it's still rare when you think of how many police officers we have in the OPP."
The Ontario Provincial Police Association said it's reviewing the judge's reasons for finding the 8-year OPP veteran guilty.
"The OPP Association will fully support OPP Provincial Constable Bailey Nicholls to the conclusion of this proceeding. We believed that the evidence would result in the acquittal of PC Nicholls, and Thursday's decision is obviously very disappointing," said John Cerasuolo, Ontario Provincial Police Association President. "We are analyzing and reviewing the decision of Justice Olver, and once the legal process is concluded, a determination will be made about the merits of an appeal."
Const. Nicholls will return to court in late November to set a date for sentencing.
https://barrie.ctvnews.ca/orillia-opp-o ... -1.6620729
Orillia OPP officer convicted of assaulting woman during arr
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Orillia OPP officer convicted of assaulting woman during arr
by Thomas » Mon Oct 30, 2023 4:24 pm
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'Deeply troubling': Orillia OPP officer convicted of assault
by Thomas » Mon Oct 30, 2023 4:26 pm
Const. Bailey Nicholls found guilty of assault causing bodily harm following 2019 incident at Orillia bar; OPP Association calls ruling 'very disappointing'
An Orillia OPP officer has been convicted of assault causing bodily harm for her actions following an arrest outside Studabakers Restaurant four years ago.
On Sept. 7, 2019, OPP officers arrested a woman outside the downtown Orillia bar at 1:15 a.m., and then transported her to the former Orillia OPP detachment on Peter Street.
While in a jail cell, the woman was involved in an interaction with Const. Bailey Nicholls, and was subsequently taken to Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital for treatment. Two days later, the woman returned to the hospital and was diagnosed with a serious injury.
At the time, a Special Investigations Unit (SIU) probe led to the charge against Nicholls, who was ultimately found guilty of assault causing bodily harm at the Orillia courthouse on Thursday.
Following the incident, Nicholls was permitted to continue working in an administrative capacity, but on Friday OPP officials confirmed that she is not currently working due to “unrelated leave.”
What happens next for Nicholls is still unclear, officials said, noting they are reviewing the decision and that sentencing has yet to take place.
“While there has been a conviction registered, we don't know if there will be an appeal or anything like that. It'll all take time,” said OPP media relations manager Bill Dickson.
In a news release, OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique stated the police service recognizes how troubling such convictions can be.
"We recognize that it can be deeply troubling when a police officer is convicted of, or even accused of a criminal offence,” Carrique said. “The OPP is a very large service and serious breaches of the law or professional standards by our members are rare. We hold our officers to the highest standards of professionalism and are committed to ensuring that we maintain the public's trust."
John Cerasuolo, president of the Ontario Provincial Police Association (OPPA), said the association will continue to “fully support” Nicholls to the conclusion of the legal proceedings.
“On Oct. 26, 2023, Justice Jon Olver read a verdict of guilty of assault causing bodily harm for Const. Bailey Nicholls after a trial in Orillia court,” Cerasuolo said in a statement.
“We believed that the evidence would result in the acquittal of PC Nicholls and today's decision is obviously very disappointing," he said.
“We are analyzing and reviewing the decision of Justice Olver, and once the legal process is concluded, a determination will be made about the merits of an appeal.”
“The member’s currently off on unrelated leave, so they're not actually working," Dickson added. “There will be professional standards and an investigation following this, but there are processes to follow.”
https://www.barrietoday.com/police-beat ... lt-7746018
An Orillia OPP officer has been convicted of assault causing bodily harm for her actions following an arrest outside Studabakers Restaurant four years ago.
On Sept. 7, 2019, OPP officers arrested a woman outside the downtown Orillia bar at 1:15 a.m., and then transported her to the former Orillia OPP detachment on Peter Street.
While in a jail cell, the woman was involved in an interaction with Const. Bailey Nicholls, and was subsequently taken to Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital for treatment. Two days later, the woman returned to the hospital and was diagnosed with a serious injury.
At the time, a Special Investigations Unit (SIU) probe led to the charge against Nicholls, who was ultimately found guilty of assault causing bodily harm at the Orillia courthouse on Thursday.
Following the incident, Nicholls was permitted to continue working in an administrative capacity, but on Friday OPP officials confirmed that she is not currently working due to “unrelated leave.”
What happens next for Nicholls is still unclear, officials said, noting they are reviewing the decision and that sentencing has yet to take place.
“While there has been a conviction registered, we don't know if there will be an appeal or anything like that. It'll all take time,” said OPP media relations manager Bill Dickson.
In a news release, OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique stated the police service recognizes how troubling such convictions can be.
"We recognize that it can be deeply troubling when a police officer is convicted of, or even accused of a criminal offence,” Carrique said. “The OPP is a very large service and serious breaches of the law or professional standards by our members are rare. We hold our officers to the highest standards of professionalism and are committed to ensuring that we maintain the public's trust."
John Cerasuolo, president of the Ontario Provincial Police Association (OPPA), said the association will continue to “fully support” Nicholls to the conclusion of the legal proceedings.
“On Oct. 26, 2023, Justice Jon Olver read a verdict of guilty of assault causing bodily harm for Const. Bailey Nicholls after a trial in Orillia court,” Cerasuolo said in a statement.
“We believed that the evidence would result in the acquittal of PC Nicholls and today's decision is obviously very disappointing," he said.
“We are analyzing and reviewing the decision of Justice Olver, and once the legal process is concluded, a determination will be made about the merits of an appeal.”
“The member’s currently off on unrelated leave, so they're not actually working," Dickson added. “There will be professional standards and an investigation following this, but there are processes to follow.”
https://www.barrietoday.com/police-beat ... lt-7746018
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'Disingenuous': OPP officer found guilty of assaulting woman
by Thomas » Mon Oct 30, 2023 4:30 pm
'Disingenuous': OPP officer found guilty of assaulting woman during Orillia arrest
A judge found excessive force was used during a September 2019 arrest
An Orillia OPP constable has been found guilty of assault causing bodily harm, after a woman was choked and hit against cell bars four years ago.
In a verdict read Oct. 26, Justice John Olver said Const. Bailey Nicholls used excessive force during the arrest of another woman while removing her jewelry in a jail cell, causing her to bleed and need five staples.
The court heard Nicholls was called to Studabakers Beachside on Sept. 7, 2019, after a complaint.
A man had gotten into a fight with a bouncer, and OPP were called to assist. The man's mother, Shannon Hoffman, had been drinking with a friend before arriving at the restaurant that night.
She watched the altercation unfold, and was angry and belligerent with officers, who asked her repeatedly to leave. She did not, and was arrested for public intoxication — a charge to which she later pleaded guilty.
The 43-year-old was brought back to the former OPP station on Peter Street, where she was put into a holding cell. As a routine precaution, she was asked to remove her jewelry, which was all caught on video.
She was tipsy and had trouble undoing the clasp from a necklace, so she removed her hoop earrings and a few stud earrings before attempting the necklace again.
Approximately a minute had gone by, and Nicholls decided to intervene, pulling on the chain, which snapped and broke.
“She makes no attempt to remove the clasp,” Olver said, adding that's when the mood in the room shifted.
Next, Nicholls reached for Hoffman's right hand to pull off a ring, which was stuck to the point it hurt. Hoffman grabbed the officer's wrist to stop her from pulling any further, which Nicholls told the court she perceived as a threat.
The fact that Hoffman is smaller than Nicholls at five-foot two-inches tall and 115 pounds doesn't equal much of a threat, Olver noted.
“She was asked how it felt when Hoffman grabbed her wrist, and she said, 'I'm the one in the position of authority, so at no point is anyone going to put physical force on me,'” Olver said. “She was asked if she could have let the situation play out (without force) and said, 'I certainly could have, but I was not willing to do that.'”
Using one hand, Nicholls restrained the woman's arm, then reached up with her free hand and started choking her.
“She grabs her throat while pushing her into cell bars, pinning her at arm's length,” Olver said. “She didn't take a step back; she decided to go hands-on.”
Nicholls held her there for four seconds before another female officer stepped in to de-escalate the situation.
Following that, Hoffman reached behind her head, noticing blood on her hands from a wound. Paramedics were called to take her to Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital, where she got five staples to close the wound. She later filed a complaint with the OPP, which was investigated by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), resulting in criminal charges.
Olver noted Nicholls didn't complete a use-of-force report, and waited 18 minutes after Hoffman went to the hospital to call her supervisor to report the confrontation.
The SIU interview — completed 15 months later without rewatching the video — was also different than her trial testimony, Olver said.
Forcefully removing the necklace was provocative and showed impatience, he added.
“Nicholls is responsible for escalating the situation, which directly led to the incident, and her response is excessive and disproportionate for the minimal force applied by an officer,” Olver said. “Her evidence to the contrary is disingenuous.”
He found her guilty of assault causing bodily harm.
In a statement sent to Simcoe.com, the Ontario Provincial Police Association president John Cerasuolo said he stands behind Nicholls.
“The OPP Association will fully support OPP Provincial Const. Bailey Nicholls to the conclusion of this proceeding,“ Cerasuolo said. ”We believed that the evidence would result in the acquittal of PC Nicholls and today's decision is obviously very disappointing.“
He said the organization is analyzing and reviewing the decision of Justice Olver, and once the legal process is concluded, a determination will be made about the merits of an appeal.
Similarly, OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique released a statement about the decision.
”We recognize that it can be deeply troubling when a police officer is convicted of, or even accused of a criminal offence,“ Carrique wrote. ”The OPP is a very large service and serious breaches of the law or professional standards by our members are rare. We hold our officers to the highest standards of professionalism and are committed to ensuring that we maintain the public's trust.“
Carrique added the OPP is also reviewing the decision and details of the case.
Olver will meet with lawyers Nov. 28 to set a sentencing date.
https://www.simcoe.com/news/disingenuou ... b4f25.html
A judge found excessive force was used during a September 2019 arrest
An Orillia OPP constable has been found guilty of assault causing bodily harm, after a woman was choked and hit against cell bars four years ago.
In a verdict read Oct. 26, Justice John Olver said Const. Bailey Nicholls used excessive force during the arrest of another woman while removing her jewelry in a jail cell, causing her to bleed and need five staples.
The court heard Nicholls was called to Studabakers Beachside on Sept. 7, 2019, after a complaint.
A man had gotten into a fight with a bouncer, and OPP were called to assist. The man's mother, Shannon Hoffman, had been drinking with a friend before arriving at the restaurant that night.
She watched the altercation unfold, and was angry and belligerent with officers, who asked her repeatedly to leave. She did not, and was arrested for public intoxication — a charge to which she later pleaded guilty.
The 43-year-old was brought back to the former OPP station on Peter Street, where she was put into a holding cell. As a routine precaution, she was asked to remove her jewelry, which was all caught on video.
She was tipsy and had trouble undoing the clasp from a necklace, so she removed her hoop earrings and a few stud earrings before attempting the necklace again.
Approximately a minute had gone by, and Nicholls decided to intervene, pulling on the chain, which snapped and broke.
“She makes no attempt to remove the clasp,” Olver said, adding that's when the mood in the room shifted.
Next, Nicholls reached for Hoffman's right hand to pull off a ring, which was stuck to the point it hurt. Hoffman grabbed the officer's wrist to stop her from pulling any further, which Nicholls told the court she perceived as a threat.
The fact that Hoffman is smaller than Nicholls at five-foot two-inches tall and 115 pounds doesn't equal much of a threat, Olver noted.
“She was asked how it felt when Hoffman grabbed her wrist, and she said, 'I'm the one in the position of authority, so at no point is anyone going to put physical force on me,'” Olver said. “She was asked if she could have let the situation play out (without force) and said, 'I certainly could have, but I was not willing to do that.'”
Using one hand, Nicholls restrained the woman's arm, then reached up with her free hand and started choking her.
“She grabs her throat while pushing her into cell bars, pinning her at arm's length,” Olver said. “She didn't take a step back; she decided to go hands-on.”
Nicholls held her there for four seconds before another female officer stepped in to de-escalate the situation.
Following that, Hoffman reached behind her head, noticing blood on her hands from a wound. Paramedics were called to take her to Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital, where she got five staples to close the wound. She later filed a complaint with the OPP, which was investigated by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), resulting in criminal charges.
Olver noted Nicholls didn't complete a use-of-force report, and waited 18 minutes after Hoffman went to the hospital to call her supervisor to report the confrontation.
The SIU interview — completed 15 months later without rewatching the video — was also different than her trial testimony, Olver said.
Forcefully removing the necklace was provocative and showed impatience, he added.
“Nicholls is responsible for escalating the situation, which directly led to the incident, and her response is excessive and disproportionate for the minimal force applied by an officer,” Olver said. “Her evidence to the contrary is disingenuous.”
He found her guilty of assault causing bodily harm.
In a statement sent to Simcoe.com, the Ontario Provincial Police Association president John Cerasuolo said he stands behind Nicholls.
“The OPP Association will fully support OPP Provincial Const. Bailey Nicholls to the conclusion of this proceeding,“ Cerasuolo said. ”We believed that the evidence would result in the acquittal of PC Nicholls and today's decision is obviously very disappointing.“
He said the organization is analyzing and reviewing the decision of Justice Olver, and once the legal process is concluded, a determination will be made about the merits of an appeal.
Similarly, OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique released a statement about the decision.
”We recognize that it can be deeply troubling when a police officer is convicted of, or even accused of a criminal offence,“ Carrique wrote. ”The OPP is a very large service and serious breaches of the law or professional standards by our members are rare. We hold our officers to the highest standards of professionalism and are committed to ensuring that we maintain the public's trust.“
Carrique added the OPP is also reviewing the decision and details of the case.
Olver will meet with lawyers Nov. 28 to set a sentencing date.
https://www.simcoe.com/news/disingenuou ... b4f25.html
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Video shows OPP officer putting hand around woman’s neck, pu
by Thomas » Thu Dec 07, 2023 3:44 am
Video shows OPP officer putting hand around woman’s neck, pushing her back against holding cell in Orillia
Newly released security video in the case of an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) constable convicted of assaulting a 43-year-old woman inside a holding cell in Orillia in 2019 shows the moment when the officer put her hands around the victim's throat and pushed her back against jail bars.
The more than eight-minute video has no audio and begins with a handcuffed Shannon Hoffman being brought inside the facility. She was arrested outside the Studabakers Beachside restaurant in Orillia on Sept. 7, 2019, for public intoxication.
After her handcuffs are removed, Hoffman starts removing her jewelry with Const. Bailey Nicholls is watching on. One minute passes and Hoffman has yet to take them all off. During the trial, the judge decided the video showed the officer's increasing frustration with Hoffman's struggle to remove her necklace.
In the video, the two are seen exchanging words before Nicholls steps in, grabs Hoffman's necklace and removes it. Hoffman appears to be upset by the officer's actions as the two are then seen arguing.
As she speaks, Hoffman raises her hands, and Nicholls grabs it and tries to remove a ring on her finger. When Hoffman attempts to pull out her hand, Nicholls is seen putting her hand around Hoffman's neck, pushing her back against the jail bars. The constable had Hoffman pinned for about four seconds before she was able to break free. Another OPP officer comes in to intervene.
Hoffman is later placed inside the cell and continually checks the back of her head. The two officers return and give her a tissue, which she presses on her head.
The video later reveals a blood-soaked tissue. Paramedics show up a few moments later to check on Hoffman.
She had to be taken to the hospital to be treated for a cut in her head, which needed to be stapled five times.
The Special Investigations Unit, the province's police watchdog, looked into the incident and charged Nicholls.
During the trial, the judge found Nicholls' explanation of what occurred as "disingenuous and unsatisfactory" and said, "I am troubled by P.C. Nicholls' refusal to acknowledge what is plainly seen in the cell video."
The constable, who has been with the OPP for eight years, was found guilty of assault causing bodily harm last month.
The OPP Association said it fully supports Nicholls, who is on an unrelated leave, despite the "very disappointing" decision.
“We believed that the evidence, including the video released today, would result in the acquittal of PC Nicholls," the OPPA said in a statement.
"We have viewed the video. It is our position that force used in the circumstances was minimal, appropriate, and commiserate in the full circumstances of the incident."
The OPPA added that the full interaction that led to the officer's actions was not captured in the video.
"We believe that while a reasonable member of the public viewing the video may not accept the officer’s use of force they would be left wondering how that interaction resulted in the injury and a conviction for ‘assault cause bodily harm’," the group said.
The OPPA noted it is reviewing the judge's decision and will determine if an appeal is necessary.
https://www.cp24.com/news/video-shows-o ... -1.6664560
Newly released security video in the case of an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) constable convicted of assaulting a 43-year-old woman inside a holding cell in Orillia in 2019 shows the moment when the officer put her hands around the victim's throat and pushed her back against jail bars.
The more than eight-minute video has no audio and begins with a handcuffed Shannon Hoffman being brought inside the facility. She was arrested outside the Studabakers Beachside restaurant in Orillia on Sept. 7, 2019, for public intoxication.
After her handcuffs are removed, Hoffman starts removing her jewelry with Const. Bailey Nicholls is watching on. One minute passes and Hoffman has yet to take them all off. During the trial, the judge decided the video showed the officer's increasing frustration with Hoffman's struggle to remove her necklace.
In the video, the two are seen exchanging words before Nicholls steps in, grabs Hoffman's necklace and removes it. Hoffman appears to be upset by the officer's actions as the two are then seen arguing.
As she speaks, Hoffman raises her hands, and Nicholls grabs it and tries to remove a ring on her finger. When Hoffman attempts to pull out her hand, Nicholls is seen putting her hand around Hoffman's neck, pushing her back against the jail bars. The constable had Hoffman pinned for about four seconds before she was able to break free. Another OPP officer comes in to intervene.
Hoffman is later placed inside the cell and continually checks the back of her head. The two officers return and give her a tissue, which she presses on her head.
The video later reveals a blood-soaked tissue. Paramedics show up a few moments later to check on Hoffman.
She had to be taken to the hospital to be treated for a cut in her head, which needed to be stapled five times.
The Special Investigations Unit, the province's police watchdog, looked into the incident and charged Nicholls.
During the trial, the judge found Nicholls' explanation of what occurred as "disingenuous and unsatisfactory" and said, "I am troubled by P.C. Nicholls' refusal to acknowledge what is plainly seen in the cell video."
The constable, who has been with the OPP for eight years, was found guilty of assault causing bodily harm last month.
The OPP Association said it fully supports Nicholls, who is on an unrelated leave, despite the "very disappointing" decision.
“We believed that the evidence, including the video released today, would result in the acquittal of PC Nicholls," the OPPA said in a statement.
"We have viewed the video. It is our position that force used in the circumstances was minimal, appropriate, and commiserate in the full circumstances of the incident."
The OPPA added that the full interaction that led to the officer's actions was not captured in the video.
"We believe that while a reasonable member of the public viewing the video may not accept the officer’s use of force they would be left wondering how that interaction resulted in the injury and a conviction for ‘assault cause bodily harm’," the group said.
The OPPA noted it is reviewing the judge's decision and will determine if an appeal is necessary.
https://www.cp24.com/news/video-shows-o ... -1.6664560
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Video shows OPP officer putting hand around woman’s neck, pu
by Thomas » Thu Dec 07, 2023 3:45 am
Video shows OPP officer putting hand around woman’s neck, pushing her back against holding cell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6CyXma4eyk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6CyXma4eyk
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Sentencing hearing in Orillia for OPP officer guilty of assa
by Thomas » Fri Mar 01, 2024 6:36 am
An Ontario Provincial Police officer guilty of assault causing bodily harm for choking and pinning a woman against jail cell bars four years ago arrived at the Orillia courthouse on Thursday for a sentencing hearing.
Security video released from inside a holding cell in 2019 showed the interaction between Const. Bailey Nicholls and Shannon Hoffman, 43, who was accused of being intoxicated in public.
The video shows Nicholls' frustration with Hoffman as the woman tried to remove her jewelry. Nicholls is seen snapping off Hoffman's necklace and forcibly trying to remove her ring.
The officer then pushed Hoffman backwards into the cell bars and placed her hand on the woman's throat. Hoffman suffered a head injury from the incident that required five staples.
The Crown read a victim impact statement on behalf of Hoffman, saying the assault "has had a long-lasting impact" and calling it an "absolute abuse of power."
The Crown was seeking a 12 to 15-month conditional sentence for Nicholls rather than straight jail time so she could take care of her 11-month-old son, adding had she not had parental duties, it would have gone after 60 to 90 days in prison. The Crown argued a breach of trust by an OPP officer required a harsher penalty.
Nicholl's defence called for a conditional discharge with probation or a suspended sentence, calling the assault out of character.
In October, when Nicholls was found guilty, the judge said he found the officer's explanations to be "disingenuous and unsatisfactory" and that he was "troubled by P.C. Nicholls' refusal to acknowledge what is plainly seen in the cell video."
The defence said Nicholls had no intention of injuring Hoffman, that she made a mistake in a split decision and has felt shame and sadness since, adding the incident had significantly altered her relationships with family and friends, including the postponement of her wedding.
In statements provided to the court by Nicholls' colleagues, she was described as an exemplary officer and a model citizen, having volunteered for several organizations in Orillia.
The judge will now have a month to review Thursday's court proceedings.
Sentencing is expected to be handed down on April 4 in Collingwood.
https://barrie.ctvnews.ca/sentencing-he ... -1.6789845
Security video released from inside a holding cell in 2019 showed the interaction between Const. Bailey Nicholls and Shannon Hoffman, 43, who was accused of being intoxicated in public.
The video shows Nicholls' frustration with Hoffman as the woman tried to remove her jewelry. Nicholls is seen snapping off Hoffman's necklace and forcibly trying to remove her ring.
The officer then pushed Hoffman backwards into the cell bars and placed her hand on the woman's throat. Hoffman suffered a head injury from the incident that required five staples.
The Crown read a victim impact statement on behalf of Hoffman, saying the assault "has had a long-lasting impact" and calling it an "absolute abuse of power."
The Crown was seeking a 12 to 15-month conditional sentence for Nicholls rather than straight jail time so she could take care of her 11-month-old son, adding had she not had parental duties, it would have gone after 60 to 90 days in prison. The Crown argued a breach of trust by an OPP officer required a harsher penalty.
Nicholl's defence called for a conditional discharge with probation or a suspended sentence, calling the assault out of character.
In October, when Nicholls was found guilty, the judge said he found the officer's explanations to be "disingenuous and unsatisfactory" and that he was "troubled by P.C. Nicholls' refusal to acknowledge what is plainly seen in the cell video."
The defence said Nicholls had no intention of injuring Hoffman, that she made a mistake in a split decision and has felt shame and sadness since, adding the incident had significantly altered her relationships with family and friends, including the postponement of her wedding.
In statements provided to the court by Nicholls' colleagues, she was described as an exemplary officer and a model citizen, having volunteered for several organizations in Orillia.
The judge will now have a month to review Thursday's court proceedings.
Sentencing is expected to be handed down on April 4 in Collingwood.
https://barrie.ctvnews.ca/sentencing-he ... -1.6789845
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‘The abuse of power… was terrifying’: Crown seeking up to 15
by Thomas » Fri Mar 01, 2024 6:40 am
‘The abuse of power… was terrifying’: Crown seeking up to 15-month conditional sentence for Orillia OPP officer convicted of assault
Const. Bailey Nicholls’ lawyer is arguing for discharge with probationary conditions or suspended sentence
Const. Bailey Nicholls was convicted in October of assault causing bodily harm for grabbing Shannon Hoffman by the throat and pushing her into cell bars.
A woman assaulted by an Orillia OPP officer while in custody said the incident has left her and her family with a deep distrust of the police.
A Crown attorney read out a victim impact statement from Shannon Hoffman in an Orillia courtroom on Feb. 29, in which she thanked the court for “bringing me some peace after four years.”
Hoffman was arrested in September 2019 for public intoxication.
While in custody at the detachment, she was assaulted by Const. Bailey Nicholls, after the officer became impatient while Hoffman was trying to remove her jewelry prior to going into a holding cell.
Nicholls forcibly tore off Hoffman’s necklace after Hoffman made two unsuccessful attempts to unclasp it.
While trying to take off her rings, the situation escalated to the point where Nicholls grabbed Hoffman by the throat and pushed her into the cell bars. Hoffman later required stitches to close a head wound.
Nicholls was charged by the province’s Special Investigations Unit in January 2021 and was found guilty in October of assault causing bodily harm.
In her statement, read out during the Feb. 29 sentencing hearing, Hoffman said she now felt anxiety while interacting with the police, and that while she acknowledged responsibility for the circumstances of why she was arrested, there was nothing that justified Nicholls’ actions.
Not only did she suffer the assault, Hoffman wrote in her statement, “but there were many lies told about me … everyone I encountered thought I was just a drunk woman who tried to assault an officer.”
Hoffman said she's tried to tell her daughter that not all officers act in the same manner, “but she has drawn her own conclusions” about the police.
“I hope (Nicholls) never has to fear another human being as much as I did that night,” Hoffman wrote, adding that she's still trying to heal. “The abuse of power displayed that night was terrifying.”
Crown attorney Catherine Weiler asked for a conditional sentence of 12 to 15 months, noting that Nicholls’ actions represented a “breach of trust” and saying it would send a message to other officers that an assault on an individual in their custody “deserves denunciation.”
Normally, she told Justice John Olver, a “short, sharp” in-jail sentence of 60 to 90 days would be appropriate, but Nicholls’ personal circumstances (she is on an 18-month maternity leave), combined with the gravity of the offence, warranted a conditional sentence of a longer period.
“A discharge would send a message that (an assault of a prisoner in police custody) … is not worthy of denunciation and it would be out of step (with previous court decisions),” Weiler told the court.
Nicholls’ lawyer, Mike Miller, proposed either a discharge with probationary conditions or a suspended sentence, arguing that the officer made a split-second decision in stressful circumstances, including that the detachment was understaffed the night of the incident.
He argued that the incident bore no semblance to other cases of officers charged with assaulting individuals in custody, in that it was not premeditated and it only happened in a matter of seconds.
“This was a matter of impulse; her judgment failed,” Miller said.
The lawyer also told the court Nicholls was born and raised in Orillia, and graduated from her policing and criminology studies at post-secondary institutions with honours before becoming a police officer in 2016.
“There’s a lot the public has not heard about Const. Nicholls,” Miller said, as he read from a number of character letters that spoke to the officer’s work ethic, compassion and kindness.
Miller said Nicholls, who is now 31, has suffered from anxiety and depression since charges were laid, and felt “shame, sadness, and frustration in dealing with life, even in the happiest moments.”
That included, Miller told the court, the birth of Nicholls’ son in April 2023.
He said Nicholls, who had no disciplinary issues prior to the incident, didn't intend to hurt Hoffman, and highlighted Nicholls’ work in investigations related to domestic violence and child abuse.
“Her work in that type of policing has allowed her to make a difference in the lives of people who are in crisis and are vulnerable,” Miller told the court. “(Nicholls) is a very good person, a thoughtful, giving, selfless, empathetic, and loyal person.”
“For a lifetime of serving the community, it would be wrong to define her life and career in policing through a window of an incident that lasted only a few seconds.”
Weiler called the assault more than “a lapse of judgment” and said Nicholls’ actions were a “breach of trust … (and) she has brought onto herself the potential for dismissal (from the OPP).”
“She acted contrary to her police training … and ignored her training in particular by getting impatient and hands-on in removing (Hoffman’s) jewelry,” Weiler said. “(Hoffman) did not pose a threat to the officer, and she did not provoke the assault.”
Nicholls is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on April 4.
The OPP’s Professional Standards Branch is also reviewing the complaint against Nicholls, and is waiting for the outcome of the criminal proceedings.
https://www.simcoe.com/news/crime/the-a ... 46a91.html
Const. Bailey Nicholls’ lawyer is arguing for discharge with probationary conditions or suspended sentence
Const. Bailey Nicholls was convicted in October of assault causing bodily harm for grabbing Shannon Hoffman by the throat and pushing her into cell bars.
A woman assaulted by an Orillia OPP officer while in custody said the incident has left her and her family with a deep distrust of the police.
A Crown attorney read out a victim impact statement from Shannon Hoffman in an Orillia courtroom on Feb. 29, in which she thanked the court for “bringing me some peace after four years.”
Hoffman was arrested in September 2019 for public intoxication.
While in custody at the detachment, she was assaulted by Const. Bailey Nicholls, after the officer became impatient while Hoffman was trying to remove her jewelry prior to going into a holding cell.
Nicholls forcibly tore off Hoffman’s necklace after Hoffman made two unsuccessful attempts to unclasp it.
While trying to take off her rings, the situation escalated to the point where Nicholls grabbed Hoffman by the throat and pushed her into the cell bars. Hoffman later required stitches to close a head wound.
Nicholls was charged by the province’s Special Investigations Unit in January 2021 and was found guilty in October of assault causing bodily harm.
In her statement, read out during the Feb. 29 sentencing hearing, Hoffman said she now felt anxiety while interacting with the police, and that while she acknowledged responsibility for the circumstances of why she was arrested, there was nothing that justified Nicholls’ actions.
Not only did she suffer the assault, Hoffman wrote in her statement, “but there were many lies told about me … everyone I encountered thought I was just a drunk woman who tried to assault an officer.”
Hoffman said she's tried to tell her daughter that not all officers act in the same manner, “but she has drawn her own conclusions” about the police.
“I hope (Nicholls) never has to fear another human being as much as I did that night,” Hoffman wrote, adding that she's still trying to heal. “The abuse of power displayed that night was terrifying.”
Crown attorney Catherine Weiler asked for a conditional sentence of 12 to 15 months, noting that Nicholls’ actions represented a “breach of trust” and saying it would send a message to other officers that an assault on an individual in their custody “deserves denunciation.”
Normally, she told Justice John Olver, a “short, sharp” in-jail sentence of 60 to 90 days would be appropriate, but Nicholls’ personal circumstances (she is on an 18-month maternity leave), combined with the gravity of the offence, warranted a conditional sentence of a longer period.
“A discharge would send a message that (an assault of a prisoner in police custody) … is not worthy of denunciation and it would be out of step (with previous court decisions),” Weiler told the court.
Nicholls’ lawyer, Mike Miller, proposed either a discharge with probationary conditions or a suspended sentence, arguing that the officer made a split-second decision in stressful circumstances, including that the detachment was understaffed the night of the incident.
He argued that the incident bore no semblance to other cases of officers charged with assaulting individuals in custody, in that it was not premeditated and it only happened in a matter of seconds.
“This was a matter of impulse; her judgment failed,” Miller said.
The lawyer also told the court Nicholls was born and raised in Orillia, and graduated from her policing and criminology studies at post-secondary institutions with honours before becoming a police officer in 2016.
“There’s a lot the public has not heard about Const. Nicholls,” Miller said, as he read from a number of character letters that spoke to the officer’s work ethic, compassion and kindness.
Miller said Nicholls, who is now 31, has suffered from anxiety and depression since charges were laid, and felt “shame, sadness, and frustration in dealing with life, even in the happiest moments.”
That included, Miller told the court, the birth of Nicholls’ son in April 2023.
He said Nicholls, who had no disciplinary issues prior to the incident, didn't intend to hurt Hoffman, and highlighted Nicholls’ work in investigations related to domestic violence and child abuse.
“Her work in that type of policing has allowed her to make a difference in the lives of people who are in crisis and are vulnerable,” Miller told the court. “(Nicholls) is a very good person, a thoughtful, giving, selfless, empathetic, and loyal person.”
“For a lifetime of serving the community, it would be wrong to define her life and career in policing through a window of an incident that lasted only a few seconds.”
Weiler called the assault more than “a lapse of judgment” and said Nicholls’ actions were a “breach of trust … (and) she has brought onto herself the potential for dismissal (from the OPP).”
“She acted contrary to her police training … and ignored her training in particular by getting impatient and hands-on in removing (Hoffman’s) jewelry,” Weiler said. “(Hoffman) did not pose a threat to the officer, and she did not provoke the assault.”
Nicholls is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on April 4.
The OPP’s Professional Standards Branch is also reviewing the complaint against Nicholls, and is waiting for the outcome of the criminal proceedings.
https://www.simcoe.com/news/crime/the-a ... 46a91.html
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OPP officer guilty of assaulting a jail cell has sentencing
by Thomas » Fri Mar 01, 2024 6:41 am
OPP officer guilty of assaulting a jail cell has sentencing hearing in Orillia PiPa News
An Ontario Provincial Police officer guilty of assault causing bodily harm for choking and pinning a woman against jail cells four years ago arrived at the Orillia courthouse on Thursday for a sentencing hearing.
Security video released from inside a holding cell in 2019 shows the interaction between Const. Bailey Nicholls and Shannon Hoffman, 43, who were charged with being drunk in public.
The video shows Nicholls’ frustration with Hoffman as the woman tries to remove her jewelry. Nicholls is seen removing Hoffman’s necklace and forcing her to remove her ring.
The officer then pushed Hoffman back against the cell bars and put his hand around the woman’s throat. Hoffman suffered a head injury from the incident that required five staples.
The Crown read a victim impact statement for Hoffman, which said the attack “had long-lasting effects” and called it an “absolute abuse of power.”
The Crown asked for a 12- to 15-month conditional sentence for Nicholls instead of a straight prison term so she could care for her 11-month-old son, adding that if she hadn’t had parental duties, it would have been over. it is after 60 to 90 days. in prison. The Crown argued that breaching an OPP officer’s trust warranted a harsher sentence.
Nicholl’s defense called for a conditional discharge with probation or a suspended sentence, calling the attack out of character.
In October, when Nicholls was found guilty, the judge said he found the officer’s explanations “dishonest and unsatisfactory” and that he was “disturbed by PC Nicholls’ refusal to -identified as clearly visible in the cell video.”
The defense said Nicholls had no intention of hurting Hoffman, that he had made a mistake in a split decision and has felt shame and sadness ever since, adding that the incident had changed his relationships with family and friends, including the postponement of his wedding.
In statements given in court by Nicholls’ associates, he was described as an exemplary officer and model citizen, who volunteered with many organizations in Orillia.
The judge will now have a month to review the court proceedings on Thursday.
Sentencing is expected on April 4 in Collingwood.
https://pipanews.com/opp-officer-guilty ... pipa-news/
An Ontario Provincial Police officer guilty of assault causing bodily harm for choking and pinning a woman against jail cells four years ago arrived at the Orillia courthouse on Thursday for a sentencing hearing.
Security video released from inside a holding cell in 2019 shows the interaction between Const. Bailey Nicholls and Shannon Hoffman, 43, who were charged with being drunk in public.
The video shows Nicholls’ frustration with Hoffman as the woman tries to remove her jewelry. Nicholls is seen removing Hoffman’s necklace and forcing her to remove her ring.
The officer then pushed Hoffman back against the cell bars and put his hand around the woman’s throat. Hoffman suffered a head injury from the incident that required five staples.
The Crown read a victim impact statement for Hoffman, which said the attack “had long-lasting effects” and called it an “absolute abuse of power.”
The Crown asked for a 12- to 15-month conditional sentence for Nicholls instead of a straight prison term so she could care for her 11-month-old son, adding that if she hadn’t had parental duties, it would have been over. it is after 60 to 90 days. in prison. The Crown argued that breaching an OPP officer’s trust warranted a harsher sentence.
Nicholl’s defense called for a conditional discharge with probation or a suspended sentence, calling the attack out of character.
In October, when Nicholls was found guilty, the judge said he found the officer’s explanations “dishonest and unsatisfactory” and that he was “disturbed by PC Nicholls’ refusal to -identified as clearly visible in the cell video.”
The defense said Nicholls had no intention of hurting Hoffman, that he had made a mistake in a split decision and has felt shame and sadness ever since, adding that the incident had changed his relationships with family and friends, including the postponement of his wedding.
In statements given in court by Nicholls’ associates, he was described as an exemplary officer and model citizen, who volunteered with many organizations in Orillia.
The judge will now have a month to review the court proceedings on Thursday.
Sentencing is expected on April 4 in Collingwood.
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'Breach of trust': Sentence for Orillia OPP officer now in j
by Thomas » Fri Mar 01, 2024 6:43 am
'Breach of trust': Sentence for Orillia OPP officer now in judge's hands
Crown attorney says Const. Bailey Nicholls' conduct was an 'absolute abuse of power' that has had a 'long-lasting impact' on the victim's life
More than four years after an incident in downtown Orillia that spilled over into the jail cell of the local OPP detachment, the fate of Orillia OPP Const. Bailey Nicholls remains uncertain.
On Thursday, an all-day sentencing hearing was held at the Orillia courthouse for Nicholls, who was found guilty of assault causing bodily harm last year for her interactions with an Orillia resident in 2019.
The Crown, Catherine Weiler, and defence attorney, Mike Wilder, both made their cases for what they deemed to be an appropriate punishment for Nicholls, following the incident in which Nicholls injured Shannon Hoffman while she was in custody.
Hoffman was arrested for public intoxication outside Studabakers at Orillia's waterfront on Sept. 7, 2019, before being brought to a holding cell at the OPP detachment then located on Peter Street.
Hoffman was asked to remove her jewelry, including earrings, a necklace, and chain on her neck. After struggling with removing the chain, Nicholls stepped in and snapped the chain from her neck.
Nicholls then attempted to remove a ring from Hoffman’s finger, which was tightly in place, when Hoffman reached out and grabbed Nicholls’ wrist — prompting the officer to push her back against the cell bars, putting her hand around Hoffman’s throat for roughly 3.5 seconds.
Following the interaction, Hoffman was taken to Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital with a wound on her head that required staples to close. A subsequent Special Investigations Unit probe led to the charge against Nicholls.
For Crown attorney Catherine Weiler, the assault demonstrated a “breach of trust” in Nicholls’ capacity as a police officer; she told the court Thursday that Hoffman was brought to the OPP station “purportedly for her safety.”
Among several aggravating factors, Weiler argued it was Nicholls’ conduct — not Hoffman’s — that “precipitated the use of force,” and that Nicholls acted contrary to her police training by “getting impatient and hands-on” during the altercation.
Weiler argued Nicholls’ conduct undermines “the public’s confidence in the police,” and read a victim impact statement from Hoffman, in which she called Nicholls’ actions an “absolute abuse of power” that has had a “long-lasting impact” on her life.
The Crown is seeking a 12-15 month conditional sentence, with one-third house arrest and one-third curfew, in lieu of a “short, sharp” jail sentence of 60-90 days due to the mitigating circumstance of Nicholls having an infant under one year of age — for which she is currently on maternity leave.
Justice Olver noted conditional sentences are normally no longer than double a jail sentence, and questioned the Crown’s rationale for the leap to 12-15 months.
The aggravating factors, along with Nicholls’ position of trust as an OPP officer “warrant exceeding that,” Weiler argued.
Defence attorney Mike Miller argued for either a suspended sentence or a conditional discharge in which conditions would be imposed upon Nicholls, but no conviction would be registered. He noted a conditional sentence would likely result in Nicholls’ termination from the OPP.
Miller highlighted Nicholls’ numerous efforts to contribute to the community, both in her work as an OPP officer and as a volunteer at Big Brothers Big Sisters, among other local organizations, and read numerous positive character references and performance evaluations from her superiors.
Miller called Nicholls a “thoughtful, generous, kind, empathetic and loyal person,” and said “it would be wrong to define her through the window of an incident lasting only a few seconds." He said Nicholls did not intend to injure Hoffman.
Weiler, however, argued that regardless of Nicholls’ intent, her “use of excessive force” nonetheless led to Hoffman’s injuries, and added that her career with the OPP is not the court’s responsibility.
“This hearing is fundamentally not about whether or not she gets to keep her job … that is up to Ms. Nicholls' police service,” Weiler said.
Justice Olver is expected to announce his ruling on the sentencing on April 4.
https://www.barrietoday.com/local-news/ ... ds-8379506
Crown attorney says Const. Bailey Nicholls' conduct was an 'absolute abuse of power' that has had a 'long-lasting impact' on the victim's life
More than four years after an incident in downtown Orillia that spilled over into the jail cell of the local OPP detachment, the fate of Orillia OPP Const. Bailey Nicholls remains uncertain.
On Thursday, an all-day sentencing hearing was held at the Orillia courthouse for Nicholls, who was found guilty of assault causing bodily harm last year for her interactions with an Orillia resident in 2019.
The Crown, Catherine Weiler, and defence attorney, Mike Wilder, both made their cases for what they deemed to be an appropriate punishment for Nicholls, following the incident in which Nicholls injured Shannon Hoffman while she was in custody.
Hoffman was arrested for public intoxication outside Studabakers at Orillia's waterfront on Sept. 7, 2019, before being brought to a holding cell at the OPP detachment then located on Peter Street.
Hoffman was asked to remove her jewelry, including earrings, a necklace, and chain on her neck. After struggling with removing the chain, Nicholls stepped in and snapped the chain from her neck.
Nicholls then attempted to remove a ring from Hoffman’s finger, which was tightly in place, when Hoffman reached out and grabbed Nicholls’ wrist — prompting the officer to push her back against the cell bars, putting her hand around Hoffman’s throat for roughly 3.5 seconds.
Following the interaction, Hoffman was taken to Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital with a wound on her head that required staples to close. A subsequent Special Investigations Unit probe led to the charge against Nicholls.
For Crown attorney Catherine Weiler, the assault demonstrated a “breach of trust” in Nicholls’ capacity as a police officer; she told the court Thursday that Hoffman was brought to the OPP station “purportedly for her safety.”
Among several aggravating factors, Weiler argued it was Nicholls’ conduct — not Hoffman’s — that “precipitated the use of force,” and that Nicholls acted contrary to her police training by “getting impatient and hands-on” during the altercation.
Weiler argued Nicholls’ conduct undermines “the public’s confidence in the police,” and read a victim impact statement from Hoffman, in which she called Nicholls’ actions an “absolute abuse of power” that has had a “long-lasting impact” on her life.
The Crown is seeking a 12-15 month conditional sentence, with one-third house arrest and one-third curfew, in lieu of a “short, sharp” jail sentence of 60-90 days due to the mitigating circumstance of Nicholls having an infant under one year of age — for which she is currently on maternity leave.
Justice Olver noted conditional sentences are normally no longer than double a jail sentence, and questioned the Crown’s rationale for the leap to 12-15 months.
The aggravating factors, along with Nicholls’ position of trust as an OPP officer “warrant exceeding that,” Weiler argued.
Defence attorney Mike Miller argued for either a suspended sentence or a conditional discharge in which conditions would be imposed upon Nicholls, but no conviction would be registered. He noted a conditional sentence would likely result in Nicholls’ termination from the OPP.
Miller highlighted Nicholls’ numerous efforts to contribute to the community, both in her work as an OPP officer and as a volunteer at Big Brothers Big Sisters, among other local organizations, and read numerous positive character references and performance evaluations from her superiors.
Miller called Nicholls a “thoughtful, generous, kind, empathetic and loyal person,” and said “it would be wrong to define her through the window of an incident lasting only a few seconds." He said Nicholls did not intend to injure Hoffman.
Weiler, however, argued that regardless of Nicholls’ intent, her “use of excessive force” nonetheless led to Hoffman’s injuries, and added that her career with the OPP is not the court’s responsibility.
“This hearing is fundamentally not about whether or not she gets to keep her job … that is up to Ms. Nicholls' police service,” Weiler said.
Justice Olver is expected to announce his ruling on the sentencing on April 4.
https://www.barrietoday.com/local-news/ ... ds-8379506
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Orillia OPP officer gets 15-month suspended sentence for ass
by Thomas » Mon Apr 22, 2024 8:39 am
'Police officers must be held to a higher standard than civilians,' says judge; suspended sentence will allow Const. Bailey Nicholls to avoid jail time
An Orillia OPP officer has been slapped with a 15-month suspended sentence and must take anger management classes and do 150 hours of community service, a judge ordered Thursday.
Const. Bailey Nicholls was handed the sentence Thursday morning in a Collingwood courtroom after being found guilty of assault causing bodily harm for an incident involving a civilian that followed an arrest in downtown Orillia in 2019.
The sentence will also include probation and a no-contact order with the victim.
“Police officers must be held to a higher standard than civilians. A sign of a good police officer is not what they do every day but how they act when they make a mistake,” Justice Jon Olver stated.
He noted that while the incident of violence was concerning, so was the fact Nicholls failed to report it correctly and later provided conflicting testimony in court.
“While the character references I have received are impressive, they are in stark contrast to how Nicholls conducted herself on Sept. 7 and the several months following,” he said in court.
After the judge gave his ruling, Nicholls, wiping away tears, hugged her supporters in a courtroom that was near capacity with family members, friends and other OPP members. The victim was not in the courtroom.
Nicholls was found guilty of assault causing bodily harm in an Orillia courtroom in October 2023 and a sentencing hearing was held Feb. 29, following the guilty verdict.
Shortly after the verdict was announced, the OPP Association (OPPA) issued a media release saying they will be filing an appeal on behalf of NIcholls.
According to the release, the appeal will be based on the court’s errors including but not limited to the following issues:
(a) determining that S. 25 requires a police officer to perceive a threat, as opposed to permitting use of force to affect the officer’s purpose regardless of the existence of a threat;
(b) improperly assessing the incident through the lens of the reasonableness of the complainant’s actions;
(c) failing to apply the requisite modified objective test to the assessment of the reasonableness of the officer’s actions;
"The OPP Association will continue to support Provincial Constable Nicholls through the appeal and is optimistic that the outcome will be favourable," said John Cerasuolo, president of the OPPA.
At the sentencing hearing, Crown attorney Catherine Weiler requested a 12- to 15-month conditional sentence, with one-third house arrest and one-third curfew.
The conditional sentence was offered in lieu of a “short, sharp” jail sentence of 60 to 90 days as Nicholls is currently on maternity leave and caring for an infant.
At the sentencing hearing, Olver noted conditional sentences are normally no longer than double a jail sentence, and questioned the Crown’s rationale for the leap to 12 to 15 months.
Weiler described the assault as a “breach of trust” in Nicholls’s capacity as a police officer, and argued it was Nicholls’s conduct — not the suspect’s — that “precipitated the use of force” and that Nicholls acted contrary to her police training by “getting impatient and hands-on” during the altercation.
Defence attorney Mike Wilder said a conditional sentence would likely result in Nicholls’s termination from the OPP and pushed for a suspended sentence or a conditional discharge in which conditions would be imposed on Nicholls but no conviction would be registered.
The 15-month suspended sentence will allow Nicholls to avoid jail time and may allow her to salvage her OPP career.
The charge of assault causing bodily harm stemmed from an incident that occurred in the early-morning hours of Sept. 7, 2019, when 43-year-old Shannon Hoffman was arrested for public intoxication outside Studabakers Beachside on Mississaga Street East.
Following the arrest, Hoffman was taken to the former Orillia OPP detachment on Peter Street. While in custody, she was asked to remove her jewelry. After struggling with removing a chain, Nicholls allegedly snapped the chain from her neck.
According to court records, Nicholls then attempted to remove a ring from Hoffman’s finger, and when Hoffman reached out and grabbed Nicholls’s wrist, the officer pushed her back against the cell bars and put her hand around Hoffman’s throat for about three-and-a-half seconds. Hoffman was taken to Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital with a wound on her head that required staples to close.
The matter was brought to the attention of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) by a civilian on April 15, 2020. A subsequent SIU probe led to the charge against Nicholls in January 2021.
Following the incident, Nicholls was moved to administrative duty and later began maternity leave in the fall of 2023.
https://www.orilliamatters.com/police-b ... lt-8552901
https://www.villagereport.ca/village-pi ... lt-8555521
An Orillia OPP officer has been slapped with a 15-month suspended sentence and must take anger management classes and do 150 hours of community service, a judge ordered Thursday.
Const. Bailey Nicholls was handed the sentence Thursday morning in a Collingwood courtroom after being found guilty of assault causing bodily harm for an incident involving a civilian that followed an arrest in downtown Orillia in 2019.
The sentence will also include probation and a no-contact order with the victim.
“Police officers must be held to a higher standard than civilians. A sign of a good police officer is not what they do every day but how they act when they make a mistake,” Justice Jon Olver stated.
He noted that while the incident of violence was concerning, so was the fact Nicholls failed to report it correctly and later provided conflicting testimony in court.
“While the character references I have received are impressive, they are in stark contrast to how Nicholls conducted herself on Sept. 7 and the several months following,” he said in court.
After the judge gave his ruling, Nicholls, wiping away tears, hugged her supporters in a courtroom that was near capacity with family members, friends and other OPP members. The victim was not in the courtroom.
Nicholls was found guilty of assault causing bodily harm in an Orillia courtroom in October 2023 and a sentencing hearing was held Feb. 29, following the guilty verdict.
Shortly after the verdict was announced, the OPP Association (OPPA) issued a media release saying they will be filing an appeal on behalf of NIcholls.
According to the release, the appeal will be based on the court’s errors including but not limited to the following issues:
- Incorrect application of Section.25 of the Criminal Code by:
(a) determining that S. 25 requires a police officer to perceive a threat, as opposed to permitting use of force to affect the officer’s purpose regardless of the existence of a threat;
(b) improperly assessing the incident through the lens of the reasonableness of the complainant’s actions;
(c) failing to apply the requisite modified objective test to the assessment of the reasonableness of the officer’s actions;
- An unreasonable finding as to the degree of force actually applied;
Incorrect assessment of whether there was a reasonable foreseeability of bodily harm;
Improper finding that the complainant’s injury was the product of an intentional application of force; and
A general misapprehension of the evidence.
"The OPP Association will continue to support Provincial Constable Nicholls through the appeal and is optimistic that the outcome will be favourable," said John Cerasuolo, president of the OPPA.
At the sentencing hearing, Crown attorney Catherine Weiler requested a 12- to 15-month conditional sentence, with one-third house arrest and one-third curfew.
The conditional sentence was offered in lieu of a “short, sharp” jail sentence of 60 to 90 days as Nicholls is currently on maternity leave and caring for an infant.
At the sentencing hearing, Olver noted conditional sentences are normally no longer than double a jail sentence, and questioned the Crown’s rationale for the leap to 12 to 15 months.
Weiler described the assault as a “breach of trust” in Nicholls’s capacity as a police officer, and argued it was Nicholls’s conduct — not the suspect’s — that “precipitated the use of force” and that Nicholls acted contrary to her police training by “getting impatient and hands-on” during the altercation.
Defence attorney Mike Wilder said a conditional sentence would likely result in Nicholls’s termination from the OPP and pushed for a suspended sentence or a conditional discharge in which conditions would be imposed on Nicholls but no conviction would be registered.
The 15-month suspended sentence will allow Nicholls to avoid jail time and may allow her to salvage her OPP career.
The charge of assault causing bodily harm stemmed from an incident that occurred in the early-morning hours of Sept. 7, 2019, when 43-year-old Shannon Hoffman was arrested for public intoxication outside Studabakers Beachside on Mississaga Street East.
Following the arrest, Hoffman was taken to the former Orillia OPP detachment on Peter Street. While in custody, she was asked to remove her jewelry. After struggling with removing a chain, Nicholls allegedly snapped the chain from her neck.
According to court records, Nicholls then attempted to remove a ring from Hoffman’s finger, and when Hoffman reached out and grabbed Nicholls’s wrist, the officer pushed her back against the cell bars and put her hand around Hoffman’s throat for about three-and-a-half seconds. Hoffman was taken to Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital with a wound on her head that required staples to close.
The matter was brought to the attention of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) by a civilian on April 15, 2020. A subsequent SIU probe led to the charge against Nicholls in January 2021.
Following the incident, Nicholls was moved to administrative duty and later began maternity leave in the fall of 2023.
https://www.orilliamatters.com/police-b ... lt-8552901
https://www.villagereport.ca/village-pi ... lt-8555521
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‘A fitting balance’: Judge sentences Orillia police officer
by Thomas » Mon Apr 22, 2024 8:46 am
‘A fitting balance’: Judge sentences Orillia police officer to 15 months probation for assault outside jail cell
OPP Const. Bailey Nicholls must also complete 150 hours of community service
An Orillia OPP officer convicted of assaulting a woman outside a holding cell has been handed a suspended sentence along with 15 months of probation.
Const. Bailey Nicholls will also have to complete 150 hours of community service as part of her sentence, handed down by Justice John Olver on April 4 in a Collingwood courtroom.
Following the sentencing, the Ontario Provincial Police Association — the association that represents the OPP’s uniformed and non-uniformed employees — announced it would file an appeal of Nicholls’ conviction on her behalf
Nicholls was charged by the province’s Special Investigations Unit in January 2021 and was found guilty in October 2023 of assault causing bodily harm.
In levying the sentence, Olver said he weighed the options of a suspended sentence and a conditional sentence of six months, noting the suspended sentence was a “fitting balance” that demonstrated the need for the public to see an appropriate administration of justice.
Shannon Hoffman had been brought to the police detachment after being arrested for public intoxication in September 2019.
She was instructed by officers to remove her jewelry prior to going into a holding cell. Nicholls became impatient, and forcibly tore off Hoffman’s necklace after she made two unsuccessful attempts to unclasp it.
While trying to take off her rings, the situation escalated to the point where Nicholls grabbed Hoffman by the throat and pushed her into the cell bars. Hoffman later required stitches to close a head wound.
The Crown had been seeking a conditional sentence of 12-to-15 months, given Nicholl’s personal circumstances of being a new mother.
Defence counsel Mike Miller asked for a conditional discharge, or a suspended sentence with probation.
Some of Nicholl’s family members were in the courtroom for the sentencing, along with several members of the Ontario Provincial Police Association (OPPA).
Following the sentencing, Nicholls got into the back of a vehicle driven by an OPPA member.
Olver reviewed a number of mitigating factors in his decision, noting Nicholls didn’t have any prior disciplinary issues and volunteered for several community organizations.
He also noted the 24 letters of reference provided to the court by the constable’s supporters and the “overlapping themes of honesty, compassion and empathy.”
However, Olver said, those letters were “a contrast to how (Nicholls) had conducted herself,” and that he found it difficult to reconcile an incident that appeared to be a “complete aberration of her character.”
Police officers, Olver said, “are human beings, like everyone else, and are subject to lapses of judgment.
“There is an expectation that they are to be accountable to their conduct, both good and bad.”
Olver noted aggravating factors in his sentencing, including the power imbalance between Nicholls and Hoffman, the impact on the victim and her family, as well as Nicholl’s efforts to minimize the offence, both in her testimony during the trial and through the investigation by the SIU.
The OPP’s Professional Standards Branch is also reviewing the complaint against Nicholls, and is waiting for the outcome of the criminal proceedings.
https://www.simcoe.com/news/crime/a-fit ... 7065c.html
OPP Const. Bailey Nicholls must also complete 150 hours of community service
An Orillia OPP officer convicted of assaulting a woman outside a holding cell has been handed a suspended sentence along with 15 months of probation.
Const. Bailey Nicholls will also have to complete 150 hours of community service as part of her sentence, handed down by Justice John Olver on April 4 in a Collingwood courtroom.
Following the sentencing, the Ontario Provincial Police Association — the association that represents the OPP’s uniformed and non-uniformed employees — announced it would file an appeal of Nicholls’ conviction on her behalf
Nicholls was charged by the province’s Special Investigations Unit in January 2021 and was found guilty in October 2023 of assault causing bodily harm.
In levying the sentence, Olver said he weighed the options of a suspended sentence and a conditional sentence of six months, noting the suspended sentence was a “fitting balance” that demonstrated the need for the public to see an appropriate administration of justice.
Shannon Hoffman had been brought to the police detachment after being arrested for public intoxication in September 2019.
She was instructed by officers to remove her jewelry prior to going into a holding cell. Nicholls became impatient, and forcibly tore off Hoffman’s necklace after she made two unsuccessful attempts to unclasp it.
While trying to take off her rings, the situation escalated to the point where Nicholls grabbed Hoffman by the throat and pushed her into the cell bars. Hoffman later required stitches to close a head wound.
The Crown had been seeking a conditional sentence of 12-to-15 months, given Nicholl’s personal circumstances of being a new mother.
Defence counsel Mike Miller asked for a conditional discharge, or a suspended sentence with probation.
Some of Nicholl’s family members were in the courtroom for the sentencing, along with several members of the Ontario Provincial Police Association (OPPA).
Following the sentencing, Nicholls got into the back of a vehicle driven by an OPPA member.
Olver reviewed a number of mitigating factors in his decision, noting Nicholls didn’t have any prior disciplinary issues and volunteered for several community organizations.
He also noted the 24 letters of reference provided to the court by the constable’s supporters and the “overlapping themes of honesty, compassion and empathy.”
However, Olver said, those letters were “a contrast to how (Nicholls) had conducted herself,” and that he found it difficult to reconcile an incident that appeared to be a “complete aberration of her character.”
Police officers, Olver said, “are human beings, like everyone else, and are subject to lapses of judgment.
“There is an expectation that they are to be accountable to their conduct, both good and bad.”
Olver noted aggravating factors in his sentencing, including the power imbalance between Nicholls and Hoffman, the impact on the victim and her family, as well as Nicholl’s efforts to minimize the offence, both in her testimony during the trial and through the investigation by the SIU.
The OPP’s Professional Standards Branch is also reviewing the complaint against Nicholls, and is waiting for the outcome of the criminal proceedings.
https://www.simcoe.com/news/crime/a-fit ... 7065c.html
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OPP officer convicted of assault dodges jail time with suspe
by Thomas » Mon Apr 22, 2024 8:54 am
OPP officer convicted of assault dodges jail time with suspended sentence
Constable Bailey Nicholls of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) was handed a suspended sentence after being convicted of assaulting an Orillia woman during an arrest more than four years ago - a sentence that will likely save her job in law enforcement.
Justice John Olver found Nicholls guilty of assault causing bodily harm in October. He admonished the officer, saying that were it not for her having a one-year-old boy to care for, along with other circumstances, she would likely have been sentenced to 30 to 45 days behind bars for her conduct.
The judge also told Nicholls, "If there is not a lesson in all of this for you, then maybe you should not be a police officer."
Security video released from inside a holding cell in 2019 revealed the interaction between Nicholls and a 43-year-old woman arrested for public intoxication.
Nicholls grew increasingly frustrated with the woman as she tried to remove her jewelry and became physical with her, including breaking her necklace, grabbing her throat, and forcefully pushing her head into cell bars, resulting in the woman sustaining a head injury requiring five staples.
Olver criticized Nicholls for providing misleading and conflicting accounts of the incident, failing to document it properly, and obstructing the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) probe. The judge highlighted the pivotal role of the surveillance footage in holding Nicholls accountable for her actions.
The defence maintains Nicholls acted out of fear for her safety.
Nicholls was placed on 15 months of probation, ordered to undergo impulse control or anger management counselling, and complete remedial use-of-force training. Additionally, she can't have contact with the victim, must provide her DNA for the criminal database, and fulfill 150 hours of community service.
The OPP Association intends to appeal the guilty verdict, asserting Nicholls' innocence and challenging the judge's interpretation of evidence and law. The association says Nicholls did not use excessive force and should be exonerated.
Justice Olver emphasized the breach of public trust and the seriousness of Nicholls' actions, underscoring the need for accountability within law enforcement.
In an email to CTV News, the OPP stated, "We recognize that it can be deeply troubling when a police officer is convicted of or even accused of a criminal offence. The OPP is a very large service, and serious breaches of the law or professional standards by our members are rare. We hold our officers to the highest standards of professionalism and are committed to ensuring that we maintain the public's trust."
With the criminal proceedings concluded, Nicholls could face further disciplinary action under the Police Services Act.
https://barrie.ctvnews.ca/opp-officer-c ... -1.6834053
Constable Bailey Nicholls of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) was handed a suspended sentence after being convicted of assaulting an Orillia woman during an arrest more than four years ago - a sentence that will likely save her job in law enforcement.
Justice John Olver found Nicholls guilty of assault causing bodily harm in October. He admonished the officer, saying that were it not for her having a one-year-old boy to care for, along with other circumstances, she would likely have been sentenced to 30 to 45 days behind bars for her conduct.
The judge also told Nicholls, "If there is not a lesson in all of this for you, then maybe you should not be a police officer."
Security video released from inside a holding cell in 2019 revealed the interaction between Nicholls and a 43-year-old woman arrested for public intoxication.
Nicholls grew increasingly frustrated with the woman as she tried to remove her jewelry and became physical with her, including breaking her necklace, grabbing her throat, and forcefully pushing her head into cell bars, resulting in the woman sustaining a head injury requiring five staples.
Olver criticized Nicholls for providing misleading and conflicting accounts of the incident, failing to document it properly, and obstructing the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) probe. The judge highlighted the pivotal role of the surveillance footage in holding Nicholls accountable for her actions.
The defence maintains Nicholls acted out of fear for her safety.
Nicholls was placed on 15 months of probation, ordered to undergo impulse control or anger management counselling, and complete remedial use-of-force training. Additionally, she can't have contact with the victim, must provide her DNA for the criminal database, and fulfill 150 hours of community service.
The OPP Association intends to appeal the guilty verdict, asserting Nicholls' innocence and challenging the judge's interpretation of evidence and law. The association says Nicholls did not use excessive force and should be exonerated.
Justice Olver emphasized the breach of public trust and the seriousness of Nicholls' actions, underscoring the need for accountability within law enforcement.
In an email to CTV News, the OPP stated, "We recognize that it can be deeply troubling when a police officer is convicted of or even accused of a criminal offence. The OPP is a very large service, and serious breaches of the law or professional standards by our members are rare. We hold our officers to the highest standards of professionalism and are committed to ensuring that we maintain the public's trust."
With the criminal proceedings concluded, Nicholls could face further disciplinary action under the Police Services Act.
https://barrie.ctvnews.ca/opp-officer-c ... -1.6834053
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Female OPP officer escapes with badge after being convicted
by Thomas » Mon Apr 22, 2024 8:59 am
Female OPP officer escapes with badge after being convicted of 2019 assault
A hot-tempered OPP officer has narrowly escaped with her badge after being convicted of assaulting an Orillia woman in 2019.
OPP Const. Bailey Nicholls was given a suspended sentence in connection with the beatdown, CTV News Barrie reports.
That break will likely save the combustible constable’s law enforcement career.
In 2019, Nicholls was captured on security video having a violent interaction with a 43-year-old woman who had been arrested for public intoxication. But the young cop grew increasingly frustrated with her charge as she attempted to remove her jewelry.
Nicholls then became physical with the woman, breaking her necklace, grabbing her by the throat, and slamming her head into cell bars. The woman suffered a head injury requiring five staples.
The young cop was convicted last October of assault causing bodily harm. Justice John Olver said Nicholls caught a break because she has a toddler son, otherwise she would have been looking at 30-45 days in the slammer.
“If there is not a lesson in all of this for you, then maybe you should not be a police officer,” the judge told her, CTV reported.
The jurist also lambasted Nicholls for her misleading and conflicting accounts of the encounter and obstructing the SIU investigation. But he added the surveillance video told the tale of the tape.
Her lawyers claimed that Nicholls acted out of fear.
Instead of jail, Nicholls faces 15 months of probation and has been ordered to take impulse control or anger management counselling, along with complete remedial use-of-force training. In addition, she can’t have contact with the victim, must provide her DNA and perform 150 hours of community service.
Her union plans to appeal the guilty verdict, CTV News reported. The OPPA claims the judge misinterpreted the evidence and Nicholls should be cleared.
The OPP said in a statement: “We recognize that it can be deeply troubling when a police officer is convicted of or even accused of a criminal offence. The OPP is a very large service, and serious breaches of the law or professional standards by our members are rare. We hold our officers to the highest standards of professionalism and are committed to ensuring that we maintain the public’s trust.”
Now, Nicholls could be facing more woes under the Police Services Act.
Another female OPP officer landed in hot water last October when she allegedly broke into her ex-boyfriend’s Barrie home and battered his new gal pal, leaving the woman in “terror.”
Const. Amanda Farrell was allegedly on duty at the time of the alleged incident. None of the charges have been proven.
Chantelle Stamcos told CTV News of the September 2022 incident: “It was 15 minutes of terror. It was very scary. She was in full uniform, hand on her weapon most of the time.”
The cop allegedly used the door’s security keypad, entered the house and confronted her ex-beau and his new flame. Farrell reportedly began yelling at Stamcos.
Farrell later claimed that her ex-beau allegedly assaulted her during the time they dated. CTV reported that charges were filed but later dropped.
Farrell was later charged with break-and-enter with intent to commit an indictable offence, two counts of assault, criminal harassment, mischief, and forcible confinement.
Last October, the OPP said in a statement to CTV: “We cannot comment on the matter as it deals with intimate partner violence. As the matter is now before the courts, it would be inappropriate to comment.”
https://torontosun.com/news/provincial/ ... 19-assault
A hot-tempered OPP officer has narrowly escaped with her badge after being convicted of assaulting an Orillia woman in 2019.
OPP Const. Bailey Nicholls was given a suspended sentence in connection with the beatdown, CTV News Barrie reports.
That break will likely save the combustible constable’s law enforcement career.
In 2019, Nicholls was captured on security video having a violent interaction with a 43-year-old woman who had been arrested for public intoxication. But the young cop grew increasingly frustrated with her charge as she attempted to remove her jewelry.
Nicholls then became physical with the woman, breaking her necklace, grabbing her by the throat, and slamming her head into cell bars. The woman suffered a head injury requiring five staples.
The young cop was convicted last October of assault causing bodily harm. Justice John Olver said Nicholls caught a break because she has a toddler son, otherwise she would have been looking at 30-45 days in the slammer.
“If there is not a lesson in all of this for you, then maybe you should not be a police officer,” the judge told her, CTV reported.
The jurist also lambasted Nicholls for her misleading and conflicting accounts of the encounter and obstructing the SIU investigation. But he added the surveillance video told the tale of the tape.
Her lawyers claimed that Nicholls acted out of fear.
Instead of jail, Nicholls faces 15 months of probation and has been ordered to take impulse control or anger management counselling, along with complete remedial use-of-force training. In addition, she can’t have contact with the victim, must provide her DNA and perform 150 hours of community service.
Her union plans to appeal the guilty verdict, CTV News reported. The OPPA claims the judge misinterpreted the evidence and Nicholls should be cleared.
The OPP said in a statement: “We recognize that it can be deeply troubling when a police officer is convicted of or even accused of a criminal offence. The OPP is a very large service, and serious breaches of the law or professional standards by our members are rare. We hold our officers to the highest standards of professionalism and are committed to ensuring that we maintain the public’s trust.”
Now, Nicholls could be facing more woes under the Police Services Act.
Another female OPP officer landed in hot water last October when she allegedly broke into her ex-boyfriend’s Barrie home and battered his new gal pal, leaving the woman in “terror.”
Const. Amanda Farrell was allegedly on duty at the time of the alleged incident. None of the charges have been proven.
Chantelle Stamcos told CTV News of the September 2022 incident: “It was 15 minutes of terror. It was very scary. She was in full uniform, hand on her weapon most of the time.”
The cop allegedly used the door’s security keypad, entered the house and confronted her ex-beau and his new flame. Farrell reportedly began yelling at Stamcos.
Farrell later claimed that her ex-beau allegedly assaulted her during the time they dated. CTV reported that charges were filed but later dropped.
Farrell was later charged with break-and-enter with intent to commit an indictable offence, two counts of assault, criminal harassment, mischief, and forcible confinement.
Last October, the OPP said in a statement to CTV: “We cannot comment on the matter as it deals with intimate partner violence. As the matter is now before the courts, it would be inappropriate to comment.”
https://torontosun.com/news/provincial/ ... 19-assault
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OPP officer who saw jailhouse assault video comes forward, p
by Thomas » Mon Apr 22, 2024 9:02 am
OPP officer who saw jailhouse assault video comes forward, pushes for change
An Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer is coming forward to share how he stumbled across a video of a troubling jailhouse assault, setting into motion a chain of events that would eventually result in a conviction but would also prove devastating to his mental health.
Const. Charles Ostrom told CTV News he was accidentally exposed to the video of Const. Bailey Nicholls assaulting a woman in cells at OPP's Orillia detachment, after finding a report attached to the case wasn't accurate.
"It was as far from what I had read in the report as imaginable. I thought, 'I'm seeing a crime. I'm witnessing a crime.' Albeit four months later, but I'm witnessing a crime," Ostrom said in an interview.
Ostrom had already been off work in 2013 when he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with two suicide attempts in three weeks. He returned to work 14 months later on reduced duties, allowing him to stay away from anything traumatic.
If the report attached to the video had indicated the assault it contained, Ostrom said he would have avoided it. Instead, it sparked his PTSD and pushed him to report it, passing information to a retired officer that would make its way to the OPP Commissioner and the province's police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), he said.
The video would prove crucial to the conviction of Nicholls for assault causing bodily harm. Nicholls was given a suspended sentence on Thursday by Justice John Olver.
In the video, Nicholls can be seen getting increasingly frustrated with a woman who had been arrested at an Orillia bar. She breaks her necklace, grabs her throat, and pushes her head into the cell bars. The woman can be seen bleeding from the head – an injury that required five staples to close.
Olver found Nichols provided misleading and conflicting accounts of the incident and failed to document it properly. She was placed on 15 months' probation. The Ontario Provincial Police Association has said it plans to appeal the verdict.
Ostrom said he is still off work but believes the sentence is a crucial step in his return. He said he had seen other assaults on the job that weren't dealt with properly and is calling for change.
"I wasn't able to begin to heal until there was the appropriate accountability," he said.
The number of mental stress injury claims at the OPP has risen from 50 in 2015 to a high of 180 in 2019 and has dropped back to 152 in 2023 – still some three times as many, WSIB statistics show.
The amount of benefit payments across all types of injuries shows a rise from about $6.4 million in 2013 to $20 million in 2023, according to the WSIB statistics.
Former OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis said the force is much more open to mental health claims than it has been, and more people are taking advantage of them.
"Does this mean they are forgetting about the stigma and are bravely putting their hands up and trying to seek help in bigger numbers? Or does this mean that there are more numbers overall to put their hands up?" Lewis said.
The OPP said it has worked to destigmatize mental health in the last few years and is trying to promote a culture that focuses on the well-being of its members.
Ostrom wants the OPP to take mental health concerns more seriously and listen to officers' concerns.
"I would like to see it stop. I would like to see every member of the OPP be able to hold their head high and have the dignity that they are entitled to have as a human being," he said.
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/opp-officer- ... -1.6835970
An Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer is coming forward to share how he stumbled across a video of a troubling jailhouse assault, setting into motion a chain of events that would eventually result in a conviction but would also prove devastating to his mental health.
Const. Charles Ostrom told CTV News he was accidentally exposed to the video of Const. Bailey Nicholls assaulting a woman in cells at OPP's Orillia detachment, after finding a report attached to the case wasn't accurate.
"It was as far from what I had read in the report as imaginable. I thought, 'I'm seeing a crime. I'm witnessing a crime.' Albeit four months later, but I'm witnessing a crime," Ostrom said in an interview.
Ostrom had already been off work in 2013 when he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with two suicide attempts in three weeks. He returned to work 14 months later on reduced duties, allowing him to stay away from anything traumatic.
If the report attached to the video had indicated the assault it contained, Ostrom said he would have avoided it. Instead, it sparked his PTSD and pushed him to report it, passing information to a retired officer that would make its way to the OPP Commissioner and the province's police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), he said.
The video would prove crucial to the conviction of Nicholls for assault causing bodily harm. Nicholls was given a suspended sentence on Thursday by Justice John Olver.
In the video, Nicholls can be seen getting increasingly frustrated with a woman who had been arrested at an Orillia bar. She breaks her necklace, grabs her throat, and pushes her head into the cell bars. The woman can be seen bleeding from the head – an injury that required five staples to close.
Olver found Nichols provided misleading and conflicting accounts of the incident and failed to document it properly. She was placed on 15 months' probation. The Ontario Provincial Police Association has said it plans to appeal the verdict.
Ostrom said he is still off work but believes the sentence is a crucial step in his return. He said he had seen other assaults on the job that weren't dealt with properly and is calling for change.
"I wasn't able to begin to heal until there was the appropriate accountability," he said.
The number of mental stress injury claims at the OPP has risen from 50 in 2015 to a high of 180 in 2019 and has dropped back to 152 in 2023 – still some three times as many, WSIB statistics show.
The amount of benefit payments across all types of injuries shows a rise from about $6.4 million in 2013 to $20 million in 2023, according to the WSIB statistics.
Former OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis said the force is much more open to mental health claims than it has been, and more people are taking advantage of them.
"Does this mean they are forgetting about the stigma and are bravely putting their hands up and trying to seek help in bigger numbers? Or does this mean that there are more numbers overall to put their hands up?" Lewis said.
The OPP said it has worked to destigmatize mental health in the last few years and is trying to promote a culture that focuses on the well-being of its members.
Ostrom wants the OPP to take mental health concerns more seriously and listen to officers' concerns.
"I would like to see it stop. I would like to see every member of the OPP be able to hold their head high and have the dignity that they are entitled to have as a human being," he said.
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/opp-officer- ... -1.6835970
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Prisoner's assault video triggered OPP officer's PTSD, promp
by Thomas » Tue Apr 23, 2024 12:56 pm
Prisoner's assault video triggered OPP officer's PTSD, prompting him to report fellow cop
An Ontario Provincial Police officer has spoken out about video of a jailhouse assault that triggered his PTSD and prompted him to report a fellow cop to the Special Investigations Unit.
Const. Charles Ostrom told CTV News he stumbled on a video of Const. Bailey Nicholls assaulting a woman in a cell at OPP’s Orillia detachment, after finding a report attached to the case wasn’t accurate.
“It was as far from what I had read in the report as imaginable. I thought, ‘I’m seeing a crime. I’m witnessing a crime.’ Albeit four months later, but I’m witnessing a crime,” Ostrom said in an interview with CTV.
He had been off work in 2013 when he was diagnosed with PTSD and attempted suicide twice. He returned to work 14 months later on reduced duties, allowing him to stay away from anything traumatic.
Ostrom said he would have avoided the video if he knew it would spark his PTSD.
It pushed him to report the incident to a retired officer who passed the information to the OPP Commissioner before it was handed to the SIU.
The video was critical to the conviction of Nicholls for assault causing bodily harm.
She was given a suspended sentence on Thursday by Justice John Olver.
In the video, Nicholls is seen with a woman who was arrested at a bar.
Nicholls is seen pushing the woman into jail cell bars causing an injury that needed five staples.
Olver said Nichols gave misleading accounts of the incident and failed to document it properly.
She was sentenced to 15 months of probation, which her union — Ontario Provincial Police Association (OPPA) — plans to appeal.
Ostrom said he wants the OPP to take mental health concerns seriously.
“I would like to see it stop. I would like to see every member of the OPP be able to hold their head high and have the dignity that they are entitled to have as a human being,” he told CTV.
The OPPA says it stands behind members.
“We have a duty to represent all of our members, which we are doing, and will continue to do,” OPPA spokesman Scott Mills said Saturday. “The case in question is being appealed.”
https://torontosun.com/news/provincial/ ... fellow-cop
An Ontario Provincial Police officer has spoken out about video of a jailhouse assault that triggered his PTSD and prompted him to report a fellow cop to the Special Investigations Unit.
Const. Charles Ostrom told CTV News he stumbled on a video of Const. Bailey Nicholls assaulting a woman in a cell at OPP’s Orillia detachment, after finding a report attached to the case wasn’t accurate.
“It was as far from what I had read in the report as imaginable. I thought, ‘I’m seeing a crime. I’m witnessing a crime.’ Albeit four months later, but I’m witnessing a crime,” Ostrom said in an interview with CTV.
He had been off work in 2013 when he was diagnosed with PTSD and attempted suicide twice. He returned to work 14 months later on reduced duties, allowing him to stay away from anything traumatic.
Ostrom said he would have avoided the video if he knew it would spark his PTSD.
It pushed him to report the incident to a retired officer who passed the information to the OPP Commissioner before it was handed to the SIU.
The video was critical to the conviction of Nicholls for assault causing bodily harm.
She was given a suspended sentence on Thursday by Justice John Olver.
In the video, Nicholls is seen with a woman who was arrested at a bar.
Nicholls is seen pushing the woman into jail cell bars causing an injury that needed five staples.
Olver said Nichols gave misleading accounts of the incident and failed to document it properly.
She was sentenced to 15 months of probation, which her union — Ontario Provincial Police Association (OPPA) — plans to appeal.
Ostrom said he wants the OPP to take mental health concerns seriously.
“I would like to see it stop. I would like to see every member of the OPP be able to hold their head high and have the dignity that they are entitled to have as a human being,” he told CTV.
The OPPA says it stands behind members.
“We have a duty to represent all of our members, which we are doing, and will continue to do,” OPPA spokesman Scott Mills said Saturday. “The case in question is being appealed.”
https://torontosun.com/news/provincial/ ... fellow-cop
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