Michael Shannon sentenced for Stealing Wants to Remain an Officer

Windsor police Const. Michael Shannon was sentenced Thursday to six months of house arrest for stealing $425 from an undercover RCMP officer during a sting operation.

Immediately after Ontario court judge Don Downie handed down the sentence, the Windsor Police Service put Shannon on an unpaid suspension. Since his arrest Oct. 4, 2007, Shannon had been suspended but still collecting a paycheque, in accordance with provincial regulations.

Shannon, 40, pleaded guilty to theft and breach of trust after taking the bait during an orchestrated traffic stop. Windsor police brass enlisted the help of an RCMP officer who Shannon wouldn't recognize, after receiving information more than six months earlier that pointed to Shannon being a dirty cop. He took planted money out of a duffel bag, and despite finding a crack pipe in the car, sent the driver off without so much as a ticket. The 15-year-veteran officer was arrested a few minutes later by waiting officers.

Shannon wrote a seven-page letter read in court by his lawyer Thursday in which he said he wants to remain a police officer. "I want to continue to serve my community," he said.

In the letter, he detailed his lifelong struggle with alcohol and drugs. He said he became a substance abuser at the age of 10 after being sexually abused by a babysitter. He managed to function well in life despite his addictions, getting a college diploma and a university degree before becoming a police officer. He racked up 37 commendations for exceptionally good work.

Despite going into rehab in 2001, he said he kept reverting to drugs and booze after: a bitter divorce; responding to the call in which fellow officer Const. John Atkinson had been shot dead; the stillborn birth of a daughter with an ex-girlfriend; the suicide of one fellow officer; and the cancer death of another.

"There's a saying that into every life a little rain must fall," said the judge. "Const. Shannon has had more than his share of rain."

Shannon's defence lawyer asked the officer be spared jail time and be allowed to serve his sentence in the community.

Crown prosecutor David Foulds, called Shannon's conduct "a terrible stain on the Windsor Police Service" and asked the judge to "be mindful of public perception" and send Shannon to "real jail" for six months to one year.

"I hope this is a compromise between what you were both looking for," said the judge.

But after the judge's ruling, Foulds said he was disappointed with the sentence.

"I would have wished a stronger message to be sent that when police officers commit serious breaches of trust, as this was, that real jail is a distinct possibility."

During his sentence, Shannon will be allowed out of the house from noon to 6 p.m. He will have to complete 24 hours of community service during the six months.

Following his sentence of house arrest, Shannon will be on probation for 12 months, during which time he must complete another 72 hours of community service.

Defence lawyer Andrew Bradie called the sentence fair for someone with an addiction. "Some people will be offended by it, some will understand."

Windsor police Deputy Chief Al Frederick said the department will seek Shannon's termination. He said the department has programs to help officers deal with stress and addictions, but "criminal conduct will not be tolerated at any time."

The department brought Shannon up on Police Services Act charges after his arrest. The hearings had been postponed until his criminal proceedings were complete.

Shannon lost his badge and gun at the time of his arrest. He never spent any time in jail, being released about 90 minutes after his arrest on a promise to appear in court.

He is to appear before a Police Services Act tribunal Oct. 16.