By Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms ——Bio and Archives--June 2, 2023
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TORONTO, ONTARIO: The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms announces that Constable Michael Brisco of the Windsor Police Service will be appealing his charge of Discreditable Conduct to the Ontario Civilian Police Commission.
On March 24, 2023, Constable Brisco was found guilty of Discreditable Conduct in a Windsor Police Service Discipline Hearing for making a $50 donation to the Freedom Convoy. Constable Brisco made the donation on February 8, 2022, after a finding by the Superior Court Judge that protests could continue without honking. At the time of the donation Constable Brisco was on unpaid leave from his job as a police officer in Windsor for choosing not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Constable Brisco is a highly trained and respected police officer with an exemplary record. He has been a police officer for 15 years and has no prior disciplinary record. He is a defender of Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and believes that he was exercising his Charter right to freedom of expression when making the $50 donation to support the Ottawa Freedom Convoy.
The donation was brought to the attention of Windsor Police Service when the donor list was hacked from the crowd funding site GiveSendGo. The Ontario Provincial Police intercepted the donor list and assisted in identifying police donors throughout Ontario. Constable Brisco was convicted of “discreditable conduct” for making a $50 donation to the Freedom Convoy and was required to forfeit 80 hours of work as punishment.
Thousands of Canadians supported the Freedom Convoy and exercised their right to freedom of expression by donating to the peaceful protests in Ottawa.
“Constable Brisco was exercising his right to freedom of expression when he made a small donation to the Freedom Convoy. He fully believed that the protests were peaceful, and his beliefs were confirmed by the Superior Court, which allowed for the protests to continue, albeit without honking,” says Sayeh Hassan, counsel for Constable Brisco.
“Canadians including police officers should be able to exercise their right to freedom of expression without being penalized. We are hopeful that the Ontario Civil Police Commission will overturn Constable Brisco’s conviction and uphold his right to freedom of expression,” concludes Ms. Hassan.
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Founded in 2010 as a voice for freedom in Canada’s courtrooms, the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF’s) mission is to defend the constitutional freedoms of Canadians through litigation and education.