The sergeant facing misconduct charges related to the investigation into Bruce McArthur claims he is a “scapegoat” for the Toronto police service, which has faced heated criticism over its handling of past contacts with the now-convicted serial killer. Sgt. Paul Gauthier is alleged to have conducted a negligent investigation into a 2016 report that McArthur attempted to strangle a man inside his van during a sexual encounter. McArthur was arrested, but let go with no charges. In 2017, McArthur killed two more victims, Andrew Kinsman and Selim Esen. McArthur, 67, has pleaded guilty to eight counts of first-degree murder in deaths of men spanning 2010 to 2017. Gauthier faces two counts of misconduct under Ontario’s Police Service’s Act — insubordination and neglect of duty — stemming from the June 20, 2016 incident. It’s alleged Gauthier failed to both videotape the victim’s statement and photograph the victim’s injuries within 72 hours, both of which are required by the Toronto police policy on domestic violence investigations.Gauthier has not made his first appearance at the tribunal, and the charges have not yet been tested in a hearing. In a letter intended for colleagues, and obtained by the Star Wednesday, Gauthier claims he conducted a proper investigation into the 2016 allegation against McArthur and that “my employer has effectively set me up to be their fall guy for all this.”Read more:Toronto officer failed to videotape interview with alleged McArthur choking victim in 2016, sources sayWhat we learned from Day 1 of serial killer Bruce McArthur’s sentencingA timeline of the Bruce McArthur case and the police investigation into the Gay Village killingsGauthier’s letter suggests the charges against him are the result of political pressure on the Toronto police service in the wake of earlier errors made by Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders, including his December 2017 comments do ...
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