The Chatham-Kent Police Service is actively seeking to remove a troubled Constable from its ranks after many sexual assaults and sexual abuse allegations over the years.
A Police Services Act disciplinary hearing at police headquarters in Chatham on Tuesday heard that Police Chief Gary Conn is "seeking termination" of Andrew Jaconelli on several counts of discreditable conduct and that the majority of other officers and civilian co-workers don't want Andrew Jaconelli back as an officer.
One of the witnesses on Tuesday, who testified by Skype because she didn't want to be in the same room as Jaconelli, told the hearing that he grabbed her buttocks at a Christmas party five years ago. She said the incident made her self-conscious about people touching her, bending over to put on her shoes, and having people behind her at restaurants.
"I have no respect for Andrew. He should have resigned from the police service," she said. "I don't want to see Andrew again and if he keeps his job I will [see him again because they both work out of police headquarters]."
A publication ban prevents the witness from being identified.
Inspector Mike Domony was also called as a witness and told the hearing that this is the most serious thing that the CKPS has dealt with. Domony also said that Jaconelli's conduct over the years has brought the police service's reputation down.
"I don't think it gets more serious than this," said Domony. "Officers are supposed to uphold the law. He didn't uphold his oaths of service and honour and his actions are not consistent with the oaths."
The disciplinary hearing officer also heard that Jaconelli has had issues with alcohol for over a decade and that he is getting psychological counselling for depression, stress, and a failed marriage. The hearing was also told that Jaconelli has a long history of sexual assault allegations and inappropriate behaviour.
Domony said in one incident in 2011, police had to be called when an intoxicated Jaconelli displayed inappropriate behaviour toward a waitress at a London restaurant and wouldn't stop. Domony also said Jaconelli showed poor taste as an instructor at the Ontario Police College in 2014 when he whispered something inappropriate to a female recruit, prompting her to push him away and call him a nasty name.
Both Inspector Domony and Staff Sergeant Kate McArthur, who also testified as a witness, said public trust and the relationship with local women's groups and victims' of abuse groups could be jeopardized if Jaconelli kept his job as a police officer. McArthur also doesn't want vulnerable women to fear coming forward with an allegation because Chatham-Kent has an officer within its ranks who has a history of abuse.
"Andrew has brought disrespect to himself and the service," said McArthur. "The victim should have a safe place to work. I'm hearing from the public that he is a disgrace to the uniform and shouldn't be an officer any longer. Keeping him on will diminish public trust."
The defence is trying to get Jaconelli moved out of headquarters to a satellite station in Wallaceburg or Tilbury or to a different shift so he can keep his job, but Domony said the current police practice doesn't allow that.
The defence also pointed out that at least two other officers were convicted of assault against family members, but were able to keep their jobs. Domony responded by saying neither has a long history of complaints like Jaconelli does.
Jaconelli has been suspended with pay for nearly four years. He pleaded guilty to seven counts of discreditable conduct 13 months ago stemming from two incidents in 2017 and 2018.
He also pleaded guilty to sexual assault in a Chatham court in 2020.
