Police Act hearings adjourned

The Niagara Regional Police professional standards unit adjourned a series of hearings Tuesday for officers who have found themselves in trouble with the law.

In addition to criminal charges, the officers face an internal disciplinary hearing under the Police Services Act, which governs internal investigation of officers accused of disreputable conduct.

All the hearings were adjourned until the criminal cases are resolved.

Sgt. Michael Baxter faces an internal discreditable conduct charge after he was arrested and charged with assault causing bodily harm. The criminal charges were the result of an SIU investigation after an incident during an arrest behind a drugstore in Niagara Falls on Aug. 16 that left a man with serious injuries. Baxter’s next Police Act hearing date is Oct. 9.

Const. Ken Bettes was charged with impaired driving by the OPP in Wiarton. His next court date is Nov. 28. The incident allegedly occurred when he was off duty. His Police Act hearing was adjourned to Jan. 8.

Const. Ken Schonewille was charged with assault on Oct. 9 after a teenager was injured in Lincoln. Schonewille’s next Police Act hearing is Oct. 9. Along with a discreditable conduct charge, he faces Police Act charges of unlawful exercise of authority and neglect of duty.

Const. Matt Belzil is facing assault and sexual assault charges that occurred when he was off duty. His next appearance before the internal disciplinary tribunal is Oct. 9. He faces a charge of discreditable conduct.

Const. Mark Taks is facing multiple criminal charges as well as three breaches of recognizance. He was charged with harassment and harassing telecommunications in February 2017. In October, he was arrested and charged again after an investigation into the trafficking of steroids and other narcotics including cocaine, prescription drugs and marijuana. The breaches of a recognizance resulted from another arrest in March of this year.