An officer with the Greater Sudbury Police Service who faced charges of discreditable conduct has been demoted.
In the decision released by the Greater Sudbury Police Service Hearing led by Superintendent Peter Lennox, Constable Melissa Rancourt has been demoted to third-class constable for a year, followed by one year as a second-class constable.
The verdict also included performing 40 hours of volunteer work with the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre for Holocaust Studies.
Rancourt was originally charged with trespassing and resisting arrest in September 2021 when she was forced to leave the Espanola Regional Recreation Complex after refusing to show proof of vaccination.
The original charges were dropped after she paid a $750 fine, and had her charges withdrawn under the Direct Accountability program from the John Howard Society.
The officer pled guilty in October to two charges of discreditable conduct contrary to the Police Services Act.
Since the incident transpired, Rancourt worked with the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre for Holocaust Studies, made amends to the minor hockey association, and apologized to the Town of Espanola, which has lifted her ban from the complex, and is now an assistant coach with several minor hockey teams.
To read the full report, click here (https://www.gsps.ca/en/reporting/resources/Documents/Decision—Constable-Melisa-Rancourt.pdf)