A high-ranking Toronto police officer has been demoted for nine months for interfering in a collision investigation involving her nephew.
Joyce Schertzer has been demoted one rank from inspector to staff sergeant, a pay cut of $21,000 a year. She will return to the role of inspector once the nine months are served.
The case involving Schertzer stems from a 2022 car crash involving her nephew, identified by the court as “Calvin.” It happened just outside The Boulevard Club on Lake Shore Boulevard West.
Schertzer was working at 11 Division on May 1, 2022, the day of the accident. She received a phone call from her daughter telling her that Calvin crashed his pick-up truck into a utility pole.
Schertzer arranged for a TPS officer from her division, Const. Braden Doherty, be dispatched to 14 Division, where the incident happened. She also attended the scene, circumventing the usual priority system.
Schertzer’s nephew was cleared to leave the scene roughly 10 minutes after the officer from her unit arrived, and he determined that no criminality had occurred.
The tribunal heard that Schertzer became actively involved in the investigation. She testified that she did not visit the scene of the crash to interfere but to ensure that her nephew wasn’t injured.
Schertzer was found guilty of one count of discreditable conduct and neglect of duty under Ontario’s Police Services Act but not guilty of a second count of neglect of duty.
