Officer who assaulted ex-fianceshould not keep job, says Fredericton police chief

Fredericton's police chief says he doesn't think an officer who pleaded guilty to assaulting his former fianceshould be allowed to keep his job with the police force.

Chief Martin Gaudet testified at an arbitration hearing on Thursday that the actions of Const. Colin Holmes, and the ensuing media attention, havenegatively affected the reputation of the Fredericton Police Forceand that he wouldn't be accepted for the role if he applied today.

"I just don't see how an officer accused of, or pleading guilty of domestic violence, intimate partner violence,should keep his badge his or her badge," said Gaudet, speaking before George Filliter, who's serving as arbitrator in the matter.

"This is not a common assault, this is intimate partner violence."

Holmes was charged and pleaded guilty to summary assault of his former fianceat her home in Hanwell, just south of Fredericton, on Sep. 24, 2023.

However, Holmes was spared a criminal conviction after a judge granted him a conditional discharge, which effectively lefthim with no criminal record solong as he obeys several conditions imposed at sentencing.

Holmes is now the subject of an arbitration hearing bythe New Brunswick Police Commission,following a complaint lodgedby Gaudet.

Gaudetalleges Holmes engaged in discreditable conduct by committing intimate partner violence, thus violating the officer code of conduct laid out in the Police Act.

Filliteristasked with deciding whether or not Holmescan remain on the force, after hearing evidence by commission lawyers and lawyers representing the constable.

Precedent for keeping his job, says lawyer

TJ Burke, who is representing Holmes, argued there's precedent for his clientkeeping his job, set by instances where other officers were allowed to do so in similar circumstances.

He listed off a series of police officers, who in mostcases were granted a conditional dischargefor assaultand were still allowed to keep their jobs.

One of the more high-profile examples Burke used was the case of former constable Darrell Brewer, who was convicted of assaulting his girlfriend in 2014and still allowed to remain on the force.

"And he offended another partner and lost his job," Gaudetsaid, referring to more trouble Brewer later got himself into.

Gaudetsaidthose cases have continued to mar the force's reputation in the eyes of the public.

"Society trusts us to have higher standards and morals than the general public," he said.

Gaudet's testimony was his last duty as chief of the Fredericton Police Force before retiring after a 30-year career.

Filliter adjourned the proceeding until Friday morning.

Holmes remains a member ofthe Fredericton Police Forcebut is currently suspended without pay, said police spokesperson Sonya Gilks, in an email.