5 Hamilton police officers charged over alleged fake tickets

Seven Hamilton police officers have been arrested in connection with allegedly falsifying tickets, five of whom have been charged.

The announcement follows a nine-month investigation that allegedly found discrepancies involving 32 tickets.

The investigation began in September 2014, when a ticket book was allegedly discovered in a police document shredder.

Police say they have met with and interviewed some of the people named on the tickets and are taking steps to ensure they are not negatively affected.

The seven officers are members of the ACTION Team One and have been placed on administrative duties during the investigation.

The ACTION team is funded by the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services and consists of officers deployed on foot and bicycle patrol to crime hot spots in order to curb street crime.

All seven officers were suspended with pay and police say the matter is now before the courts and no further comment on the investigation will be released.

The five officers will appear in court on July 13 to face the charges.

The officers charged are:

• Const. Bhupesh Gulati, 31, charged with conspiracy to commit and indictable offence namely intent to mislead by fabricating provincial offences notices, four counts of fabricating evidence and four counts of breach of trust.
• Const. Shawn Smith, 37, charged with conspiracy to commit and indictable offence namely intent to mislead by fabricating provincial offences notices, eight counts of fabricating evidence, eight counts of breach of trust and one count of obstructing police.
• Const. Steve Travale, 40, charged with conspiracy to commit and indictable offence namely intent to mislead by fabricating provincial offences notices, seven counts of fabricating evidence and seven counts of breach of trust.
• Const. Staci Tyldesley, 29, charged with conspiracy to commit and indictable offence namely intent to mislead by fabricating provincial offences notices, 10 counts of fabricating evidence and 10 counts of breach of trust.
• Const. Dan Williams, 32, charged with conspiracy to commit and indictable offence namely intent to mislead by fabricating provincial offences notices, two counts of fabricating evidence and two counts of breach of trust.

*With files from Paul Tadich