A Peel Regional Police officer,Const. Jeffrey Ferro has been demoted for “neglect of duty” after he failed to charge a man for slapping his wife in an incident that was captured on security video.It’s the second time since 2014 that Const. Jeffrey Ferro, a 10-year veteran of the force, has been disciplined for police misconduct.
In the most recent case, which went before a police tribunal on Feb. 26, Ferro was demoted for three months, receiving a reduction in rank from First Class Constable to Second Class Constable.
After viewing the video, Ferro spoke with a United States customs officer who told Ferro that he witnessed the assault.
Ferro then spoke with the victim, who advised him that she was not hurt or injured and that her husband was upset over the food she packed in their luggage, and, in his frustration, was waving his arms at which time he “struck her accidentally.”
Both the husband and wife were claiming the contact was “accidental” and no assault took place, the hearing was told.
Ferro later spoke to a Peel police staff sergeant and advised him of the incident, indicating that “there was an assault but he felt it was unintentional.”
Ferro classified the incident as a “verbal domestic” and “failed to accurately report a domestic assault and instead authored a verbal domestic report,” according to an agreed statement of facts.
Ferro also failed to submit a Domestic Violence Risk Management Report and went against a Peel Regional Police Directive on Domestic/Family Disputes which primarily states that “in all cases of domestic violence involving intimate relationships where reasonable grounds that an offence has been committed exist,” officers shall lay charges.
Ferro has a previous Police Services Act decision against him. Back in 2014, he pleaded guilty to discreditable conduct and deceit and was docked 15 days pay, the hearing was told.
