A Niagara Regional Police sergeant who educated youths on the dangers of drinking and driving has been stripped of her rank in wake of her criminal conviction for impaired driving last summer.
Sgt. Cathy Edgecombe, 44, pleaded guilty Tuesday before a disciplinary tribunal to a Police Services Act charge of one count of discreditable conduct. The tribunal reduced her rank to first-class constable for 14 months.
She had already lost her driver’s licence for one year and been fined $2,500 in criminal court.
The base pay for a sergeant with Niagara Regional Police is $105,467. A first-class constable makes $92,514.
Insp. Cindy White, who was acting as prosecutor for the internal disciplinary hearing, said a police officer’s good character is essential for public trust and the NRP holds its officers and supervisors to a higher standard of conduct.
“It is my submission that Sgt. Edgecombe broke that trust and broke her oath of office,” White said.
White said Edgecombe’s actions were “totally unacceptable” and damaged the reputation of the police service.
Edgecombe was involved in a collision with a motorcycle three years ago while off duty. An Ontario Court of Justice judge convicted her of impaired driving, July 22, 2015.
Shortly after Edgecombe’s arrest, she was taken to the Ontario Provincial Police detachment in Niagara Falls for her breath test. She was found to have nearly twice the legal limit of alcohol in her blood.
At her trial, court heard the crash took place during the early morning hours of June 26, 2012, on Glenridge Avenue in St. Catharines.
Edgecombe had been at a bar in downtown St. Catharines with a friend. They drank beer until about 2:30 a.m. and the collision took place shortly after.
A witness testified Edgecombe went to check on the motorcycle rider who was lying in the middle of the road. She then returned to her SUV, a 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche with the personal plate C EDGE, put the vehicle in reverse, and moved it with the motorcycle still stuck underneath her truck.
The disciplinary tribunal heard the crash didn’t seriously injure the rider. Both vehicles sustained minor damage.
McClay told Perkins the fact Edgecombe was pleading guilty to the Police Services Act charge at her first opportunity was further evidence of her remorse.
“She made an error in judgment that is not a reflection of her personal conduct as a member of the service,” McClay said. “She is stepping up and taking responsibility for her actions.”
White and McClay detailed a range of the Police Services Act penalties other officers received who committed similar drinking and driving offences. The penalties ranged from forfeiting 120 to 160 hours of pay to demotions of one to two years. Some officers had to repeat the promotion process. Others automatically had their rank restored once the disciplinary period was over.
Sergeant demoted for impaired driving conviction | St. Catharines Standard
Sgt. Cathy Edgecombe, 44, pleaded guilty Tuesday before a disciplinary tribunal to a Police Services Act charge of one count of discreditable conduct. The tribunal reduced her rank to first-class constable for 14 months.
She had already lost her driver’s licence for one year and been fined $2,500 in criminal court.
The base pay for a sergeant with Niagara Regional Police is $105,467. A first-class constable makes $92,514.
Insp. Cindy White, who was acting as prosecutor for the internal disciplinary hearing, said a police officer’s good character is essential for public trust and the NRP holds its officers and supervisors to a higher standard of conduct.
“It is my submission that Sgt. Edgecombe broke that trust and broke her oath of office,” White said.
White said Edgecombe’s actions were “totally unacceptable” and damaged the reputation of the police service.
Edgecombe was involved in a collision with a motorcycle three years ago while off duty. An Ontario Court of Justice judge convicted her of impaired driving, July 22, 2015.
Shortly after Edgecombe’s arrest, she was taken to the Ontario Provincial Police detachment in Niagara Falls for her breath test. She was found to have nearly twice the legal limit of alcohol in her blood.
At her trial, court heard the crash took place during the early morning hours of June 26, 2012, on Glenridge Avenue in St. Catharines.
Edgecombe had been at a bar in downtown St. Catharines with a friend. They drank beer until about 2:30 a.m. and the collision took place shortly after.
A witness testified Edgecombe went to check on the motorcycle rider who was lying in the middle of the road. She then returned to her SUV, a 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche with the personal plate C EDGE, put the vehicle in reverse, and moved it with the motorcycle still stuck underneath her truck.
The disciplinary tribunal heard the crash didn’t seriously injure the rider. Both vehicles sustained minor damage.
McClay told Perkins the fact Edgecombe was pleading guilty to the Police Services Act charge at her first opportunity was further evidence of her remorse.
“She made an error in judgment that is not a reflection of her personal conduct as a member of the service,” McClay said. “She is stepping up and taking responsibility for her actions.”
White and McClay detailed a range of the Police Services Act penalties other officers received who committed similar drinking and driving offences. The penalties ranged from forfeiting 120 to 160 hours of pay to demotions of one to two years. Some officers had to repeat the promotion process. Others automatically had their rank restored once the disciplinary period was over.
Sergeant demoted for impaired driving conviction | St. Catharines Standard
