An Ottawa police officer pleaded guilty to misconduct for donating cash to “Freedom Convoy” fundraisers in the course of the protest in downtown Ottawa.
Const. Kristina Neilson pleaded guilty to a single depend of discreditable conduct underneath the Police Services Act on Thursday.
According to the agreed assertion of information, Neilson donated $55 by GoFundMe on Jan. 23, two days after automobiles started arriving within the Parliamentary Precinct as a part of the protest in opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and public well being restrictions.
On Feb. 4, GoFundMe eliminated the fundraiser from its platform, stating it violated its phrases of service, and refunded or froze all donations. On the identical day, former Chief Peter Sloly known as the demonstration an “illegal occupation.”
The agreed assertion of information says GoFundMe refunded the donation to Neilson; and the identical day Neilson donated $55 by a GiveSendGo fundraising marketing campaign. That donation was refunded on March 25.
In February, the Ottawa Police Services’ Professional Standards Unit was alerted that Neilson had donated to the Freedom Convoy by GiveSendGo, and launched a Professional Standards Section investigation.
The officer admitted to making each donations in the course of the Professional Standards Unit investigation.
Neilson was employed by the Ottawa Police Service in August 2012, and has no earlier file of misconduct.
A judgement can be launched at a later date.