Winnipeg police chief Danny Smyth 'concerned about the allegations' after officer charged again

A Winnipeg police officer has been accused of tampering withhis own speeding ticket to prevent it from being issued.

The officer, who was charged with assault causing bodily harm and unsafe storage of a firearmlast year, is now facing more charges after an investigation byManitoba's police watchdog.

Patrol Sgt. Sean Cassidy was charged with unauthorized use of a computer, fraud and obstructing justice, the Independent Investigation Unit announced on Wednesday.

"I'm concerned about the allegations involving the conduct of Sgt. Cassidy," police Chief Danny Smyth said the same day. He added Cassidy is currently on paid administrative leave.

According to the IIU, the officer was captured speeding in his own vehicle while on duty on Oct. 1.

When he returned to the office from his lunch break, Cassidy allegedly made unauthorized entries in a Winnipeg Police Service computer system to prevent the speeding ticket from issuing.

The IIU determined it was in the public interest for the unit to investigate. Civilian director Zane Tesslerdetermined there were reasonable and probablegrounds to believe a criminal offence occurred.Cassidy was then charged.

Smyth said Cassidy was ondesk duty working in the photo radar department at thetime of the alleged offences. He had been removed from the field over hisprior charges while waiting for criminal proceedings to take place.

"We try, if possible, to find a suitable job for them taking them out of the field, giving them limited access.We felt that that was an appropriate duty for him at the time," Smyth said.

"We did not expect this to happen."

Chief Danny Smyth reacts about Sgt. Sean Cassidy's conduct

5 years ago

Duration 0:27

Sargeant Sean Cassidy was charged with assault causing bodily harm and unsafe storage of a firearm last year, now he is facing more charges after an investigation by Manitoba's police watchdog.

Smythsays Cassidy will be subject to a police service disciplinary process, the outcome of which could result in anything from a reprimand to termination.

"This regulatory process will run simultaneous to the criminal proceedings and could affect his employment status down the road," he said. Cassidywon't return to desk duty, though.

In addition, Smyth says the police service's professional standards unitconducted an audit on its photo radar computer system going back six years and didn't find any other instances of misconduct. It won't be made public.

Cassidyis scheduled to appear in court on March 9.

Prior charges

Cassidy, who has been amember of the force for more than 20 years, was charged in January 2019 for an incident on March2017, wherehe punched and kneed a 32-year-old manwhile trying to help other officers arrest him.

The man, who suffered head injuries, has sincefiled a civil lawsuit, arguing he was unlawfully arrested andbeaten by the officer, who wasn't on duty at the time.

In August, Cassidy was charged with the unsafe storage of a firearm and possessing a restricted weapon at an unauthorized place.Smyth said Cassidy had his personal gun, which was properly registered,in his work locker.

Court appearances related to these priorcharges are scheduled for Feb. 13 and May 19.

Smyth said he's co-operating with the IIU and takes the charges against Cassidy seriously.

"The integrity of the conduct of police officers and the integrity of police systems must be paramount if the people we serve are to trust the police."