Windsor police inspector pleads guilty, demoted a year for making sexual comments to female staff

Insp.Ed Armstrong of Windsor, Ont., policehas been demoted for one year after pleadingguilty to discreditable conduct that included makinginappropriate comments to female employees over the last 18 years.

Armstrong, who hasbeen with the Windsor Police Service for 25 years,was charged under the Police ServicesAct, the servicesaid in a news releaseJan. 17.

It wasn't until CBC News made a subsequent inquiry to the Professional Standards Branch that itbecome publicArmstrong had beencharged with seven counts of discreditable conduct.

During a hearing Monday morning, the hearing officer was toldArmstrong made unwanted comments and sent unwanted text messagesto female work colleagues.

The messages were sometimes sexual in nature.

An agreed statement of facts says Armstrong also commented on the appearance of female employeesand made unwanted physical contact with them between 2005 and 2023.

Windsor police previously said it asked Peel Regional Police to conduct the investigation into Armstrong to "ensure a transparent and impartial process."

Armstrong'sWindsor police careerincludes 10 years with the Emergency Services Unit the force'stactical team including having a leadership role. He became the city's first Black staff sergeant in 2020and first Black inspector in 2021.

The police service said Armstrong breached its policy that "prohibits members from engaging in conduct that is, or may be interpreted to be, harassing in nature."

Armstrong has been demoted to staff sergeant for one year, after which he'llautomatically regain his rank of inspector.

Another officer pleaded guilty last month

Last month, another Windsor police officer pleaded guilty for mistreating female officers.

Sgt. Steve Gawadzyn, a 21-year Windsor police veteran,admitted to making unwanted andinappropriate comments and having unwanted physical contact withfemale co-workers.

Gawadzyn's commentsinvolvedphysicalappearance,and were made on social media and via text messages between 2020 and 2023.

Gawadzyn was demotedto fourth-class constable and will not automatically regain his sergeant status. After spending one year in each of the constable ranks, he willeventually be promoted to the rank of first-class constable.