A 17-year veteran of the Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS) faces dismissal or demotion over an allegation of misconduct after posting critical comments about his peers on social media earlier this year.
First Class Const. Robert Rheaume, 50, made a brief appearance before a hearing committee adjudicated by Ontario Provincial Police Superintendent Greg Walton on Sept. 21. He is charged with one count of discreditable conduct under the Police Services Act for breaching the provisions of the GSPS corporate communications and social media policy, as well as the workplace discrimination and harassment policy.
On March 24, according to testimony on Sept. 21, an article was posted on a local news website about the annual Sunshine list, released each year by the province that shows the salaries of all public sector employees earning $100,000 or more in the previous year.
On that same day, Rheaume posted comments on the comment thread under that article, in which he highlights the salary of the police service CAO Sharon Baiden, whose salary he said increased from $130,000 to $205,000 in four years.
“The year former (police) chief Frank Elsner left, she got a $48,000 raise. Sudbury taxpayers should be asking council how that happened,” he said in his post, according to the statement of facts.
Then, on March 28, he posted another comment on Facebook critical of raises given to higher-ups at Greater Sudbury Police Service.
“There are a handful of them that got extremely hefty raises; your taxes and mine going out because of the police service board's approval.”
He called out several members of the police service in his post by name, all women, some of whom received raises of more than $30,000 over a one-year period, asking “How do you f***ing justify that?”
Rheaume's actions in posting those comments breached the provisions of the corporate communications and social media policy and the Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, said Walton, which constitutes discreditable conduct under the Police Services Act.
In 2008, a new corporate communications and social media policy was implemented by Greater Sudbury Police Service, which states members may not post information about another member on social media without that member's permission; members shall not post any information that may compromise the integrity or reputation of the service or any of its members; members may not post any comments on social media on any matter relating to policies, procedures, financial matters, personnel deployment or any other operation or administrative matter.
In 2007, a new workplace discrimination and harassment procedure was implemented, which states members shall not engage in activity that is known or reasonably known to be unwelcome by any other member.
Posting his comments on social media put Rheaume in a position of breaching those policies, stated the prosecution.
Rheaume is accused of acting in a disorderly manner or in a manner prejudicial to discipline, or likely to bring discredit upon the reputation of the police service, of which he is a member.
Rheaume asked the hearing committee for an adjournment of six weeks, as he is currently securing the services of Toronto-based law firm Brauti, Thorning and Zibarras as representation.
“We are talking about serious allegations, and the penalty is either my demotion or dismissal,” Rheaume said.
He wanted that time to allow for full disclosure to be provided to his lawyers, once he secured their services, which he expected to do by late next week.
However, it was decided that a conference call would take place Oct. 11 at 8:30 a.m. to discuss the matter further with Rheaume's counsel and to set a date for him to enter a plea.
GSPS confirmed that on March 28 an investigation was launched into Rheaume's conduct, as a result of concerns brought to Police Chief Paul Pedersen. The investigation was undertaken by the GSPS Professional Standards Bureau.
The service will not comment further while the matter is before the tribunal.
