An Ottawa Police Service constable will be docked 140 hours pay after admitting to making comments of a sexual nature to a female officer during a training exercise last winter. A settlement agreement on the Ottawa Police Service’s website says Const. Andre Hart pleaded guilty to one count of misconduct. He was charged with engaging in workplace sexual harassment under the Community Safety and Policing Act. According to the agreed statement of facts, Hart was participating in day one of the annual use of force requalification training on Feb. 2, which focused on defensive tactics. Hart was partnered with a male and female member of the service. The morning session began with two-officer takedown techniques, rotating roles. The document said during one of the scenarios, Hart incorrectly wrapped his arms around the woman’s knees, causing “significant discomfort and drove her forward with force.” The report says both officers expressed concerns that Hart was performing the drill on the woman incorrectly and in an unsafe manner. “When Const. Hart was prompted to correct his technique and to avoid being too rough, Const. Hart commented that he ‘likes it rough.’” The training then shifted to temporary restraint device drills, with the report saying the following exchange occurred before the start of the drill: The agreed statement of facts said the female officer approached a supervisor during the lunch break and expressed concern about the comments made by Hart, and “expressed unease about having further interactions with Const. Hart during the training-particularly as the afternoon drills involved mounting techniques.” The report said Hart cooperated with Professional Standards Investigators, expressed remorse for his actions and “accepted responsibility.” “Const. Hart admits that, while participating in Use of Force training with (the female officer), he made unwelcome comments of a sexual nature to (her), including that he ‘likes it rough,’ that the tying/restraint drill was ‘a turn on,’ that it was ‘foreplay’ for him, and that he ‘do[es] it every morning,’ the report said.” “These comments constitute workplace sexual harassment.” The report says Hart will forfeit 140 hours of pay under the Community Safety and Policing Act, which represents a financial penalty of $8,140. In March 2025, Hart forfeited eight hours pay for making an offensive remark about another office “related to a ground protected under the Ontario Human Rights Code,” according to the agreement. Hart was a member of the Toronto Police Service between 2005 and 2019, before joining the Ottawa Police Service in 2019.
