“Inexplicable and unjustifiable”: a police officer suspended for 15 days for throwing a piece of a teenager’s skull into a ravine

A Sûreté du Québec police officer who threw a piece of the skull of a teenager who died in a motorcycle accident into a ravine gets away with a 15-day suspension without pay, despite behavior that is “both inexplicable and unjustifiable.” “.

• Also read: Teen killed in accident: police officer improperly disposed of part of skull

“Such a gesture denotes insensitivity and a lack of empathy,” notes administrative judge Benoit Mc Mahon, of the Police Ethics Tribunal. It suggests an absence of professional conscience.”

In his recent decision, Judge Mc Mahon said he was unable to rely on a case similar to that of Sergeant Sébastien Plouffe to decide, because we have never seen such a case.

“His misconduct is disturbing and must be denounced, because it brings discredit to his function and the reputation of his police force,” he said.

In October 2021, Thommy Whissell fell from a motorcycle on Route 323, in Saint-Émile-de-Suffolk, in Outaouais, before being struck by a tow vehicle.

His mother, Nathaly Rivard, and her partner showed up on the scene four days later, in particular to find the 14-year-old teenager’s cell phone.

Several remains of the collision littered the ground, including a fragment of Thommy’s skull.

After a call to 911, Sergeant Plouffe intervened on the scene. Nathaly Rivard then strongly criticized the police for their lack of thoroughness.

In the ravine

The agent coldly replied that it was not a crime scene and that the piece of skull would not be used for forensic analyses, according to M.^me Rivard.

The events which followed also seem to have been fueled in part by “revenge” on the part of Sébastien Plouffe, underlines the court.

The sergeant had left the scene and ventured onto a small path, several kilometers further. He walked, then threw the piece of skull into a ravine.

The police officer, who has 19 years of experience, never mentioned it in his daily activity report.

“He did not contact the morgue, the hospital or the investigator on file before having the skull fragment. He also decided not to store it at the police station,” the judgment underlines.

Internal checks were carried out at the SQ after the funeral home contacted Nathaly Rivard about the missing fragment, in order to plan the cremation of the teenager.

Several police officers had to be deployed to comb the area and finally find the fragment, a week later.

“Too lenient”

Like Nathaly Rivard, judge Benoit Mc Mahon considers that the parties’ common suggestion of a 15-day suspension is “too lenient”.

However, it is not “so divorced” from all the circumstances of the case for the public to believe that “the justice system has ceased to function properly”.

Thommy Whissell’s mother, who is still trying to grieve, does not agree.

“He’s going to have two weeks off and life goes on. How do I regain confidence in my justice system? she asks herself. It’s ridiculous.”