Kingston Police officer to take a plea on assault charges
Gary Clewley, a Toronto lawyer with a long history of representing police officers charged with serious crimes, appeared on behalf of a Kingston Police officer in the Ontario Court of Justice today, Wednesday, Jun. 14, 2023.
Clewley is representing, Bradley Barkley, a Kingston Police officer who is facing two charges of assault.
In a Zoom conference from the Wellington Street Court in Kingston, His Worship, Justice of the Peace Jack Chiang, heard from Clewley in Toronto on Barkley’s behalf.
“The matter has been resolved and I am asking if it can be put to the plea court on July 12th, a date that is convenient to the Crown who’s in charge of the case, Mr. Keith Schultz,” Clewley informed Chiang.
Chiang consented to the change and moved the matter to plea court on that date.
Police divulged, Wednesday, May 17, 2023, that Barkley is currently suspended with pay from the Kingston Police Force. Police would or could not confirm the charges against Barkley, nor the nature of the offences the charges stem from at that time.
The Kingston Police Services Board appointed Bradley Barkley as an officer of the Kingston Police Force less than a year ago, beginning on June 27, 2022. At that time, Deputy Chief Fraser provided the following brief biography for new recruit Bradly Barkley:
“Constable Bradley Barkley joins Kingston Police after over two years with Halton Police. Hailing from Mallorytown, Bradley volunteered as a firefighter with the Front of Yonge Fire Department and as a volleyball coach at Thousand Island Secondary School (2017-19)… Shortly after finishing high school, he obtained a Police Foundation Diploma from St. Lawrence College (Brockville) and was placed on the Dean’s List for academic achievement. We are excited to welcome Bradley to the Kingston Police.”
Barkely is not the only Kingston Police officer who has appeared in court recently on criminal charges. Dan Mastin, a 30-year+ veteran of the Kingston Police Force, was charged with harassment by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in December 2021. Mastin reportedly pled guilty to the charge — one count of criminal harassment — at the beginning of June 2023, and received 18 months probation as a result.
“Inspector Mastin remains employed with the Kingston Police and, as per the Police Services Act, has been suspended with pay since initially charged. He will be returning from suspension on… Monday June 5, 2023, and placed on administrative duties,” Constable Ash Gutheinz, Media Relations Officer for Kingston Police, said in response to Kingstonist inquiries.
“It was brought to Chief McNeely’s attention at the time the charges were laid. Sworn members of the KPF are governed by the Police Services Act of Ontario.”
Mastin, who was suspended with pay throughout 2022, was one of 169 Kingston Police employees named to the so-called “Sunshine List” for that year, as well as the two years prior. Mastin was paid a $196,127.41 salary for the 2022 financial year.
This is a developing story with more to come.