Disciplinary hearing rules Ottawa police officer to be fired after assault conviction

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An Ottawa police officer convicted of assaulting a man nearly four years ago has been ordered to resign from the force in the next seven days or he will be fired.

Const. Goran Beric was found guilty of assault and assault with a weapon in October 2023 in connection to an incident involving a man at an Ottawa Community Housing building in August 2021. Last year, he received a suspended sentence with 30 months probation from the judge.

Now, a hearing officer has ordered Beric to be fired from the service after he was found guilty of discreditable conduct and insubordination under the Code of Conduct.

• Ottawa cop found guilty of assault gets suspended sentence

Beric was found guilty of assaulting a man while responding to a call at an Ottawa Community Housing complex on Bronson Avenue on August 4, 2021. Beric struck the man with his closed baton and stepped on his neck for two minutes and five seconds to hold him down.

The 28-page decision by the hearing officer, retired Ontario Provincial Police Supt. M.P.B. Elbers was released online Wednesday. Elbers ruled that in “in light of the seriousness of the allegations,” Beric will be fired from the Ottawa Police Service if he does not resign within seven days.

“The conduct exhibited by this officer while on duty in Ottawa is deplorable and will cause damage to the reputation of the Ottawa Police Service,” Supt. Elbers said in the decision.

“The credibility of officers that conduct investigations and act inappropriately can have an adverse effect on the officer and those in attendance. Further, this incident was reported in the media, resulting in the embarrassment of the Ottawa Police Service.”

The Ottawa Police Service had asked for a penalty of dismissal, while Beric’s lawyer asked for a demotion to Third Class Constable for 12 months and then Second Class Constable for 12 months before returning to First Class Constable.

Beric has been a member of the Ottawa Police Service since 2006.

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Ted Raymond