The news went a little unnoticed in the midst of a long, languid autumn weekend. I had more the heart to make chicken broth than to tear my shirt.
Posted at 5:00 a.m.
So there you go, let’s talk about cop David Ross, the Trois-Rivières police, subject of an article1 by Louis-Samuel Perron in The Press of Saturday. The title: “Jealous and controlling ex-cop avoids prison”.
I summarize the facts: Constable Ross dragged two women into the hell of domestic violence, subjecting them to what was described as “total control”. These two women experienced the same kind of controlling treatment at the hands of David Ross, ten years apart.
Excerpt from the article: [Ross] banging on walls, slamming doors, slapping his hands, pulling his hair and squeezing 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 several times in front of the victim’s new house, while he was on duty…”
Police officer Ross also used the Quebec criminal intelligence database (CRPQ) for purely personal purposes, illegally seeking confidential information to find out more about four women, three spouses and the mother of one of them. here, including their addresses and vehicles.
Ten years after terrorizing a first spouse, Constable Ross did it again with another. The article of The Press, again: “During a social event, he grabbed her by the arm to take 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…”
David Ross pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal harassment and one count of using police information for personal gain.
But Judge André Perreault refused to sentence police officer Ross to 11 months in prison, as demanded by the Crown2. He chose to believe that David Ross had seen the light of redemption (my expression), through a coach life and therapy. Three years probation, no jail time.
At this stage in history, we can think that David Ross would have reached the stage of thinking about his professional future outside the police force. Because hey, after pleading guilty to such charges, it’s pretty clear that a guy like David Ross doesn’t deserve to wear a police badge and the gun which comes with…
But that’s not counting the absolutely flawless dedication of the Trois-Rivières Police Association, ladies and gentlemen!
You see, the Association is contesting by grievance the dismissal of police officer Ross, on the grounds that the City of Trois-Rivières acted too quickly. The Association considers that the municipality should have waited for the end of the legal proceedings before dismissing the agent.
That’s not why I’m climbing the curtains. The principle is valid and can be defended: fire the union member when the legal process is over. OK.
But the bug is that Serge Mailloux, president of the Trois-Rivières Police Association, offered a ten-star defense to David Ross, going well beyond the simple union-obligation-to-defend- a member.
You see, President Mailloux came up with the words that are reserved for the creme de la creme of the constabulary force: David Ross, he said in court, was always an “exemplary” police officer who represented the honor guard of the Trois-Rivières Police Department…
And if the union wins its grievance, Serge Mailloux has good hopes of seeing David Ross land in a police position… community!
Mr. Ross would like to return to his teaching position… at the National Police Academy. No, I’m not making that up. David Ross, convicted criminal stalker, wants teach future cops.
President Mailloux was even moved before the Court by the fact that his poor member had to change gyms and grocery stores during the legal proceedings: we recognized him…
I checked, dear readers: we are not the 1er April and these statements are not hilarious inventions of the satirical news site The Onion. No, the only joke here is the police union mentality in all its glory.
I know that union leaders will write to me to say yes-but-the-union-is-obligated-to-defend-its-members, to which I will reply two things.
One, we don’t often hear you decrying this “obligation”. You should.
Two, nothing obliged Serge Mailloux to defend comrade Ross with such enthusiasm, with such a choice of words, nothing obliged him to sprinkle liters of lilac essence on David Ross to try to restore his virginity…
It seems to me that the facts acknowledged by Constable Ross should have tempered the Association’s choice of words.
Except no.
Except that so-so-so…
The police have very bad press and this bad press, as I have already written, is often unfair. Policeman is a difficult job, difficult to do and easy to judge.
But police union presidents who enthusiastically defend the indefensible, that’s part of the reason that damages the image of the police.