Toronto police sergeant and son-in-law of Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Ernest “Dave” Haynes, is facing more than a dozen misconduct charges.
Haynes has been charged with insubordination, breach of confidence, and discreditable conduct under the Police Service Act for alleged offences committed over the past four years. He has received a total of 15 non-criminal charges.
The charges relate to Haynes’s conduct online, allegedly expressing his opinions on private police matters over email and social media, making posts on his personal Instagram while in uniform, as well as sharing confidential matters with his wife.
At his first appearance at the tribunal on Tuesday, prosecutors laid out the documents, including an allegation that he forwarded his wife Krista Ford Haynes, the premier’s eldest daughter, more than 70 confidential emails from his Toronto Police Service (TPS) email account.
“Of the 79 emails, 61 have some direct connection to your official duties as a police officer,” a notice of hearing read. “Some of the emails also contained attachments pertaining directly to official policing duties.”
In November 2021, Haynes was among over 200 TPS members placed on unpaid leave for failing to comply with the service’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
In an emotional video posted to social media last month, Ford Haynes pleaded for public support to fund legal counsel for her husband.
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“I know in my heart that what has transpired over the last year between my husband and his employer, the Toronto Police Service, is not right,” she said in the video.
“I don’t have confidence that he’ll be given a fair hearing or investigation based on our unique political affiliation, among other bonafide reasons.”
She subsequently launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for his legal costs. As of Wednesday morning, it has raised over $18,000, with a goal of $100,000.
Haynes’ next tribunal appearance is scheduled for Apr. 8, 2025.
