Hearing underway for Guelph Police officer Const. Corey McArthur
A hearing is underway for Guelph Police officer Corey Mcarthur, who is appealing a decision that he must resign or be fired from the force.
The virtual hearing on Tuesday morning, is held by the Ontario Civilian Police Commission (OCPC).
McArthur’s lawyer is arguing he shouldn’t be fired but demoted instead.
HISTORY OF MCARTHUR’S CASE
In September 2016, McArthur struck a 17-year-old who was handcuffed to a bed at Guelph General Hospital. The teen, who had been using crystal meth, was threatening to harm himself. McArthur elbowed the boy after being kneed.
The incident was reported after the hospital reviewed security video.
He was initially charged with assault causing bodily harm but later pled guilty to a lesser charge.
In 2018, McArthur was sentenced, given a conditional discharge, maximum probation of 3 years and 240 hours of community service.
McArthur has been suspended with pay since 2016, making over $100,000 per year most years, according to the Ontario Sunshine List.
In the fall of 2022, six years after the assault, a disciplinary hearing found that McArthur had seven days to resign from his position or he would be fired.
Days later, McArthur filed a notice of appeal at the end of October, with the OCPC.
MCARTHUR’S HEARING
McArthur’s appeal stated that the police board hearing officer, Terence Kelly, made numerous mistakes in his sentencing, resulting in a penalty that was "harsh and excessive in the circumstances of this case.”
Council for McArthur on Tuesday called it “a fundamentally unfair penalty decision,” and added that: “the penalty decision makes no allowance for and fails to consider the real and graphic effects of PTSD as it was lived and experienced by Corey McArthur.”
Adding that McArthur is currently on a "successful and sustainable recovery" from PTSD and should therefore be allowed to keep a job with the police service.
His council also argued that a 2014 incident involving McArthur when was admitted in the proceeding was “a critical error.”
LAWYERS FOR GUELPH POLICE
On the other side, lawyers for the Guelph Police Service argued that McArthur should no longer be employed by them.
"The damage to the service in this case was very extensive," they said.
Lawyers admitted that the original employment hearing wasn’t perfect.
“You may well find that there are imperfections,” lawyers said.
But added: “I urge you to boil this matter down to its most basic facts. A police officer who [was] mistrusted with protecting the public, and particularly its most vulnerable members, has now twice been convicted of criminal assault in situations where he was deemed to have been reactive, aggressive, easy to anger and he abused his authority and the public trust.”
Citing case law, they argued: "Dismissal is well within the range of reasonable outcomes."
A decision on whether McArthur’s termination from the force stands was not handed down Tuesday and it's unclear when a decision will be made.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Police investigating shooting outside of Drake's Bridle Path mansion: source
Toronto police are investigating a shooting that took place outside of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion early Tuesday morning, a source tells CP24.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
3 Indian nationals accused of murdering Hardeep Singh Nijjar facing court in B.C.
Three Indian nationals accused of murdering Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar are due to face court Tuesday over the killing that triggered a major diplomatic rift with India.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Highlights from the 2024 Met Gala exhibit: Sleeping Beauty would wake up for these gowns
Sure, she was a royal princess and all. But there’s no way Sleeping Beauty — either before or after her nap — ever had quite the fabulous wardrobe that’s been assembled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.