Cop suspended After using unneCessAry forCe AgAinst 72-yeAr-old

A Montreal police officer has been suspended for four days without pay for using unnecessary force and illegally detaining a partially deaf 72-year-old man.

According to a recent Quebec Police Ethics Committee, SPVM officer David Bouffard was six months into the job when he responded to a distress call in May 2015.

The 911 call was concerning a man who allegedly hit a neighbour in the leg with a shovel during a dispute over who could use part of a yard for gardening purposes.

Bouffard arrived at the scene alone. After speaking to the woman who placed the call, he found the man, James Chi Ngafor, in the backyard with his wife.

Ngafor, 72, is partially deaf and has cataracts. He was standing with his fists clenched and Bouffard noticed a yellow plastic shovel behind him.

According to the decision, Bouffard grabbed Ngafor by the left arm in an attempt to move him away from the shovel. When he couldn’t, another officer who joined shortly after Bouffard arrived grabbed Ngafor’s right arm.

Ngafor resisted, at which point Bouffard tripped him to the ground and handcuffed him. Ngafor’s left eye and arm were bruised in the process. Bouffard told the committee he tried to speak with Ngafor before using force. Ngafor maintained there was nothing said before the altercation.

During the proceedings, Bouffard admitted to illegally detaining Ngafor and using unnecessary force. The second officer who joined Bouffard was also cited for using unnecessary force but cleared of any misconduct.

No charges were ever laid in the alleged assault that led to the distress call. Ngafor has always denied it.

Bouffard received a four-day suspension without pay: one day for the illegal detention and three for using unnecessary force. The suspensions can be served concurrently.

The ethics committee took into consideration that Bouffard expressed regret for his actions, had only six months experience at the time and hadn’t previously been cited for any misconduct.

“The description of the unfortunate event,” the committee wrote in its decision, “revealed that Constable Bouffard realized his eagerness to use force instead of using tactical communication was not appropriate in the circumstances.”