ESPANOLA—A Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS) officer was arrested and charged with assaulting a 12-year-old at a hockey game in Espanola. The officer has been suspended with pay.
According to a news release from the Ontario Provincial Police, Melisa Rancourt, 50, who was serving as a coach during the game, allegedly threatened and assaulted a 12-year-old player from the opposing team. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Ms. Rancourt is facing charges of assault, uttering threats and causing a disturbance.
On September 26, 2021, Ms. Rancourt refused to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination at a hockey game in Espanola when recreational facilities were required to ask for vaccination status.
On October 27, 2022, Ms. Rancourt pleaded guilty to two charges of discreditable conduct and was demoted from first-class to fourth-class constable. She also had to do mandatory volunteer work at the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre for Holocaust Studies.
Witnesses reported that police were summoned to intervene when Ms. Rancourt entered the arena, refusing to provide proof of vaccination and causing a disturbance.
During the subsequent disciplinary hearing, a witness testified that Ms. Rancourt shouted, “I hope you’re proud of yourself for calling the Nazis,” in a loud and angry manner after being handcuffed. As a result, she was charged with resisting a peace officer and two counts of entering a premises when entry has been prohibited, contravening the Trespass to Property Act.
In a news release, GSPS Chief Paul Pedersen stated, “While these allegations have yet to be proven in a court of law, the actions of one individual do not represent our members or reflect the values of our organization.” He continued, “It is always disturbing to hear of an officer who breaks the law and brings disrepute to the policing profession. This is in no way a reflection of our members who serve this community with pride and professionalism. We are confident that the matter will be investigated thoroughly and have confidence in our judicial system and the systems of accountability through the Police Services Act.”
The GSPS clarified in a separate news release that under current legislation in Ontario, it is not possible to suspend a police officer without pay. According to Section 89(1) of the Police Services Act of Ontario, “If a police officer, other than a chief of police or deputy chief of police, is suspected of or charged with an offence under a law of Canada or of a province or territory or is suspected of misconduct as defined in Section 80, the chief of police may suspend him or her from duty with pay.”
