Hamilton Police Officer to Remain on Force After Assaulting Indigenous Man
In a controversial decision, Hamilton police officer Brian Wren will be allowed to stay on the force despite violently assaulting an Indigenous man, Patrick Tomchuk, by kicking him in the head during his arrest. Wren will be demoted in rank from first to second-class constable for one year, resulting in a pay cut of around $14,000 per year, before being reinstated to his current position.
The disciplinary hearing, chaired by retired Ontario Provincial Police Officer Greg Walton, concluded that Wren had not nullified his usefulness to the Hamilton Police Service and could be a strong candidate for rehabilitation. However, Walton did describe Wren’s behavior during the assault as “disturbing.”
Wren had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting Tomchuk and was sentenced to 18 months of probation. The assault, which occurred while Tomchuk was already on the ground unresisting and possibly unconscious, was deemed “grotesque violence” by Crown attorney Richard Garwood-Jones.
In response to the incident, the Hamilton Regional Indian Centre has developed recommendations to address harm done by law enforcement agencies against Indigenous peoples, including creating an Indigenous liaison role within the police force and improving Indigenous training for officers. They have also called for body cameras for officers and urged police to charge Wren with a hate crime.
Despite calls for his termination, Wren will remain on the force, with Walton stating that he possesses the necessary characteristics to be successful as a police officer. Tomchuk’s mother, Olga, expressed her desire for accountability, stating, “I just want to have it where this police officer doesn’t do it anymore.”