Saskatoon police chief defends firing and rehiring of constable

Jarret Gelowitz is returning to the Saskatoon Police Service after being found not guilty of using excessive force.

The constable was charged in relation to his response to a stolen vehicle call in December 2016.

Two other assault charges against Gelowitz were dismissed.

Gelowitz was officially reinstated on Tuesday after coming to an agreement with the police service to come back to work.

According to Chief Troy Cooper, Gelowitz won’t be working with the public.

“We’ll make sure he has the appropriate training and the supervision that’s required so that he can safely and successfully do that (work with the public),” Cooper said.

The chief has insisted that Gelowitz was fired because he was unfit for duty and not specifically because of the three charges he faced.

“My concerns were for a pattern of behaviour involving his responsiveness to policy and training,” Cooper said on Wednesday.

Part of his agreement to return includes admitting to bad office behaviour, according to the chief.

“It’s that willingness to step up and accept responsibility and accept serious discipline that allowed us to move forward,” Cooper explained.

Gelowitz has agreed to desk duty and a probation plan to bring him back to the service.

With files from 650 CKOM’s Chris Vandenbreekel