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A Hamilton police constable has been charged with assault in connection with an off-duty incident while fishing in Flamborough this spring.
The incident allegedly involved a retired Hamilton police officer who is also charged with assault.
Const. Peter Franchin was charged by Brantford police with assault level one (the lowest level of assault) for the May 12 incident, Hamilton police said in a news release Friday.
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The incident, in Flamborough, was a verbal dispute that turned physical, Brantford police spokesperson Robin Matthews-Osmond said. No injuries were reported from either party.
In a statement, Franchin’s lawyer Bernard Cummins said his client was fishing when he was allegedly accosted and physically attacked.
He said the other person involved is a retired Hamilton police staff sergeant, adding that she is charged with assault and mischief under $5,000 arising from the incident.
Franchin is “extremely disappointed” that he has been charged criminally and will not comment further on what happened, the statement said.
His “only interest is to repair his name and repair reputation damage … from that unwarranted charge.”
It is common for outside police services to investigate incidents involving other services. It is Hamilton police practice to issue press releases in cases where one of their officers has been charged, whether on or off duty. However, that only applies to active, not retired officers. The release did not mention the retired officer.
Franchin is scheduled to make his first appearance in court in Brantford on Sept. 4.
According to LinkedIn profiles, Franchin has worked for Hamilton police since 2021 and, as a former elite hockey player, also has a hockey development business.
