Edmonton cop found guilty of unnecessary force

February 19, 2009
Edmonton Journal

EDMONTON - An Edmonton constable who Tasered a man during an arrest outside a downtown bar has been found guilty of unnecessary use of force.

A police disciplinary hearing Thursday found that Hoglund was out of line when he fired his Taser at Robert Boik on the night of Sept. 4, 2004, when two other officers already had him under control.

"Const. Hoglund's use of the Taser was not appropriate or necessary," said Supt. Mark Logar, the presiding officer.

Logar noted that the other two officers did not ask for Hoglund's help, nor did he ask them if they needed help to subdue Boik, who was involved in a brawl in the parking lot of the Globe Bar and Grill at Jasper Avenue and 109th Street.

"Const. Hoglund cannot justify his actions," Logar said.

Hoglund had already pleaded guilty to failing to file a report on the incident.

The hearing is now considering sentencing arguments. At stake is Hoglund's promotion from constable to sergeant, which has been on hold since April 2007 pending the outcome of this hearing. The presenting officer, Insp. Shane Loxterkamp, is also asking that Hoglund lose 35 hours of pay.