Ottawa police officer who stepped on man's neck ordered fired

An Ottawa police officer who was found guilty of assault and assault with a weapon after stepping on a man's neck and striking him with a baton has been told to resign or he'll be fired.

In a 28-page disciplinary panel ruling published Wednesday, retired Ontario Provincial Police superintendent M.P.B. Elbers ordered Const. Goran Beric be given seven days to resign from the Ottawa Police Service over an incident that occurred nearly four years ago at an Ottawa Community Housing building on Bronson Avenue.

On the night of Aug. 4, 2021, Beric and four other Ottawa police officers responded to reports of a man covered in blood and screaming at the building.

A judge later found Beric had used unlawful and unnecessary force when he jabbed Derrick Weyman's head with a baton and stepped on his neck for more than two minutes as Weyman lay on the floor.

Elbers said Beric's actions that night may indicate a lack of moral judgment, and said his rehabilitation is doubtful.

"Constable Beric I believe lost control of his emotions," Elbers wrote. "There is no doubt that Constable Beric and his family will suffer from the penalty.... I have given this situation serious consideration in determining an appropriate disposition."

Beric, a member of the Ottawa Police Service since 2006, was charged following an investigation by Waterloo police in 2022, and convicted in October of 2023. In January 2024 Beric was given a suspended sentence of 30 months' probation and ordered to complete 200 hours of community service.

The disciplinary case against him involved three charges of discreditable conduct and two charges of insubordination laid by the OPS's professional standards section.

Another factor was Beric's lack of reporting use of force as required.

Beric had been assigned to administrative duties pending the disciplinary panel's decision. His counsel asked that he be demoted to third-class constable, and the Ottawa Police Association also lobbied for his demotion rather than his dismissal.

Beric's counsel also recommended updating the OPS's use of force training.

The Ottawa Police Association has filed an appeal on behalf of Beric in relation to the penalty imposed, a spokesperson for the association said, adding that they had no further comment at this time.