A Windsor police constable has been sentenced in connection with an assault last year.
Constable Kenneth Burt appeared in the Ontario Court of Justice in Windsor Monday to plead guilty to one count each of assault and exceeding the legal blood-alcohol limit. With the plea, Burt was sentenced to one year's probation and a $1,000 fine. Burt is also barred from driving for one year.
The case began with an incident on Greenpark Boulevard and Wyandotte Street East in the early morning hours of September 22, 2018. Burt, who was off-duty at the time, was spotted driving erratically and was soon tailed by other drivers in an effort to get the licence number of his vehicle. The 20-year police veteran got out of his vehicle and assaulted at least two people.
Burt, a veteran who served in Afghanistan, was originally charged with four counts of assault. He has been suspended by WPS following the incident and is now subject to an internal tribunal, according to Chief Al Frederick.
"Anytime an officer commits a criminal act, obviously it's a major concern to me as chief of police," Frederick told reporters Monday. "It's very disappointing. However, I can tell you that he was investigated and held accountable by his peers, without hesitation."
Frederick said Burt's guilty plea in the case shows that he has accepted responsibility for what happened and it will be taken into consideration when his case goes before the police tribunal, which the chief said could happen almost right away.
