A “jealous and controlling” ex-Trois-Rivières police officer who put two women through the hell of domestic violence got away with a criminal record and three years probation on Friday, while the Crown demanded 11 months in jail. David Ross still hopes to become a police officer again and teach at the National Police Academy.
Posted at 2:35 p.m.
“flat” and “tanning”. This is how the former Trois-Rivières police officer, dismissed in 2021, summed up his behavior towards the two victims, according to the pre-sentence report. In addition to minimizing the facts, David Ross always insisted last year on the “role of the victims” whom he reproached for not having taken their “pills”.
But his belated “remorse” in court, his “holistic” therapy with a life coach and his dismissal from the police force seem to have convinced Judge André Perreault that David Ross should avoid prison. Indeed, the judge does not clearly explain why he dismisses the Prosecution’s suggestion.
“Society has more to gain from such a sentence than a prison sentence”, Judge Perreault briefly concluded after two hours of reading. He sentenced David Ross to a suspended sentence and three years probation during which he will have to participate in therapy for violent men. The judge, however, refused to grant him an absolute discharge, a particularly lenient sentence.
David Ross pleaded guilty last year to two counts of stalking ex-spouses in the 2000s and 2010s and one count to fraudulently using a computer to conduct around 20 bank searches police data.
A total grip
The psychological domestic violence exercised by David Ross was marked by “surveillance, jealousy and control”, according to the judge. While he was a police officer, he exercised “total control” over the life of his first victim: his food, his clothes, his outings, his associations, etc.
On occasion, David Ross would bang on walls, slam doors, clap his hands, pull his hair, and squeeze the victim’s arms. When the woman managed to leave him, the policeman literally grabbed hold of her leg to hold her back. He even went so far as to pass by the victim’s new house several times while he was on duty.
Ten years later, David Ross made his girlfriend live the same nightmare, exercising control at all times. During a social event, he grabbed her by the arm to bring her to see someone. One evening, he pushed her roughly when he woke up. Frightened, she left him the next day. But when she tried to secretly organize her move with friends, the policeman landed on the spot. The victim was terrified. After their breakup, David Ross continued to call the woman often, and even her mother.
Even today, the victim is “overwhelmed by fear” as soon as she approaches Trois-Rivières and still fears the wrath of David Ross.
David Ross did not hesitate to search the lives of his associates in the Quebec Police Intelligence Center (CRPQ), the province’s major criminal information directory. The police officer thus carried out around twenty searches concerning the vehicles and addresses of four women between 2013 and 2018.
Despite the seriousness of the crimes, the president of the Trois-Rivières Police Association, Serge Mailloux, came to the defense of David Ross during the proceedings, calling him an “exemplary and dedicated” police officer, worthy of the ” honor guard” of the service.
The union is challenging the dismissal of David Ross, pronounced by the City following his admission of guilt last year. If he wins his grievance and succeeds in rejoining the police force, a “community position” with the Trois-Rivières police awaits him, according to Serge Mailloux.
David Ross was hoping for an absolute discharge, among other things, because he still hopes to return to teaching. He has indeed taught for years at the National Police School of Quebec. He also wanted to join the board of Accord Mauricie, an organization dedicated to violent men.
After downplaying his actions in front of the probation officer in 2021, David Ross gave another speech to the judge this year, calling his behavior “shameful” and “unacceptable”. He said he was a changed man thanks to his therapy with a life coach and acupuncture care.
If he has already used the terms “tanning” and “flat” to describe his behavior, it is only because the victims used these words, he defended himself. Never, before the court, David Ross admitted to having committed domestic violence, underlines the judge. The ex-policeman, however, complained of losing two million dollars due to his dismissal, as he earned more than $100,000 a year.
Me Jennifer Morin represented the public ministry, while the accused was defended by Mr.e Dennis Gallant.