After pleading guilty in July to assault causing bodily harm, a Nanaimo RCMP officer has received a conditional discharge and one year probation.
Constable Tim Bedard was sentenced this morning at the Nanaimo courthouse, in connection with an incident at the Nanaimo RCMP detachment in June of 2014.
An inmate threw a punch at Bedard after refusing to remove his shorts, or the drawstring, while he was being booked into a cell. In response, Bedard punched the inmate in the face eight times, leaving him with a black eye, a broken nose and a possible fractured cheekbone.
The judge said Bedard was very remorseful, and the incident was completely out of character judging by the 20 letters of reference in Bedard’s file.
Nanaimo RCMP Superintendent Mark Fisher says he respects the decision.
The judge said Bedard has been seeing a psychologist since the incident occurred, and the psychologist diagnosed Bedard with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Bedard will have to continue counselling while on probation. Fisher says the RCMP also have systems in place to support members with mental health issues.
The conditional discharge means Bedard will not have a criminal record. Bedard will also have to complete 50 hours of community service within the first six months of his probation.
