Cop accused of debasing prisoner
`Sexually demeaning' behaviour alleged against police sergeant
A female Windsor police officer is accused of “sexually demeaning” a prisoner by pointing out she could see his genitals through a torn jumpsuit, then proceeding with an interrogation while he remained restrained and exposed.
Windsor Police Chief Pam Mizuno had ruled the complaint against Sgt. Kathleen Henry was unsubstantiated after an investigation from the force's professional standards branch.
But the Office of the Independent Police Review Director overturned that decision and ordered Windsor police to issue a notice of hearing. Henry is charged with misconduct for her alleged treatment of Jonathan Perry. She pleaded not guilty on Monday.
“I don't want to embarrass you,” Henry can be heard saying on video of the interrogation played Monday during a disciplinary hearing. “Just to let you know, I can see everything.”
In a written complaint, Perry said police wouldn't give him his sleep medication, and that repeated requests for a new jumpsuit were denied by several officers.
Perry also alleged he was interviewed by a female officer while he was restrained with his genitals exposed through the torn jumpsuit. The interview happened March 16, 2019, at Windsor police headquarters.
Perry had been arrested for assault causing bodily harm after a confrontation with his father over money.
He was not at Monday's hearing and has stated through his lawyer that he does not wish to take the witness stand. On Oct. 28, 2019, Windsor police received Perry's complaint from the Office of the Independent Police Review Director — an independent civilian oversight agency.
Staff Sgt. Jennifer Crosby, who did the initial investigation for Windsor police and decided the allegations were unfounded, was asked to read the complaint into the record on Monday.
In it, Perry said he was “denied anything to cover up.”
“I was in a powerless position with people that we as citizens are supposed to trust,” he wrote.
Perry stated the experience left him feeling “embarrassed,” “powerless” and “humiliated.”
“She even made a point to say she could see my genitals,” Perry wrote.
“If it had been a female and a male guard, that would never be acceptable.”
Despite the video of Perry's interview and of him being escorted through parts of police headquarters wearing the ripped jumpsuit, Crosby determined there was no evidence to support any of the allegations.
The civilian agency agreed with Crosby about Perry's complaints regarding the medication and the claim he was refused a new suit.
But in a May 7, 2020 letter, the OIPRD overturned the Windsor police ruling on the complaint about Henry's behaviour, stating it “found this conduct to be of a serious nature.”
Prosecutor David Amyot had Crosby play several videos Monday from police headquarters. The videos were shielded from the public gallery but the audio could be heard.
In one video, Crosby said, she could see Perry's jumpsuit tear down the right leg as he reclines on a bench in his cell.
After the suit is ripped, Perry is taken out of the cell to the booking counter to get his medication. Sev
She even made a point to say she could see my genitals. If it had been a female and a male guard, that would never be acceptable.
eral male and female officers pass by or are in close proximity while he's at the counter, Crosby said.
She said there was no discussion of the ripped suit by the officers or Perry.
The prisoner was later woken up and escorted to a different floor for the interview with Henry.
At one point, Henry is told that Perry “blew out his blue suit,” he's not wearing underwear and his genitals are exposed.
Under questioning from Amyot, Crosby said the tear is visible on video as Perry walks down the hallway.
“You can see when he enters the interview room that it is ripped.”
After Henry tells Perry she can see his genitals, the interview lasts about half an hour.
“I see your blue suit is ripped,” Henry says in the video.
“You've got a big hole there.” The hearing continues Tuesday.