Penalty hearing for disgraced Guelph police officer hears PTSD is ‘one of the most exaggerated illnesses’

A forensic psychiatrist said PTSD is one of the most ‘exaggerated’ illnesses in his profession. CTV’s Spencer Turcotte reports.

Warning: this story may include details that may be disturbing to some readers.

The penalty hearing for a Guelph Police Service constable, who admitted to assaulting a teen who was handcuffed to a hospital bed, resumed on Thursday.

Const. Corey McArthur previously pleaded guilty to discreditable conduct related to a 2016 incident that was captured on security cameras at Guelph General Hospital.

The footage showed a 17-year-old boy acting erratically after he used crystal methamphetamine. The boy kneed McArthur in the chest or stomach, and, in retaliation, McArthur elbowed the teen. The strike caused or aggravated an injury, and the boy had a 3.5 cm cut under his eye, bruising and swelling.

• TIMELINE: Corey McArthur’s troubled past with the Guelph Police Service

McArthur was initially charged with assault causing bodily harm, but he ultimately pleaded guilty to a criminal assault charge in September 2018. He was given a conditional discharge with three years maximum probation and 240 hours of community service.

In October 2022, a police services hearing was held to determine if McArthur should be reprimanded or dismissed from the Guelph Police Service. McArthur was told he must resign from the force within seven days or risk being fired. However, he successfully appealed the decision, arguing he should be demoted instead of dismissed.

In July 2024, McArthur pleaded guilty to discreditable conduct for a second time, and another penalty hearing began.

Thursday’s testimony

Dr. Peter Collins, a forensic psychiatrist who reviewed McArthur’s records but was not allowed to assess McArthur personally, returned to the witness stand on Thursday.

Collins previously told the court there was evidence showing McArthur exhibited a pattern of anger that sometimes crossed over into aggression.

In the past, McArthur blamed his actions at the hospital on undiagnosed and untreated Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). He claimed it began following the 2013 death of his policing partner. Const. Jennifer Kovach was killed while responding to a call for help from McArthur. Her police vehicle collided with a Guelph transit bus amid icy road conditions.

Madeline Ross, an associate who was standing in for McArthur’s lawyer, began her line of questioning on Thursday by asking whether Collins recalled specific exhibits referenced in his review.

Although he could recall some documents, lawyer Jessica Barrow, who is representing the Guelph Police Service, objected to the line of questioning. She said it was unfair to ask detailed questions about hundreds of documents.

Collins told the hearing if any file numbers in his report were missing or reversed, it was due to his arithmetic dyslexia.

Questioning then shifted to Collins’ understanding of PTSD and how it evolved over time.

Collins called PTSD “one of the most exaggerated illnesses we see in psychiatry.”

He added, “There’s not a connection between violence and PTSD.”

Collins was asked if PTSD is more prevalent among first responders than the general population. He said it was, but added there is a lot to learn when it comes to wellness in policing.

“We’re finding a lot of people are claiming to have PTSD in law enforcement who do not,” he said.

Collins also claimed the ailment can sometimes be used as “a get-out-of-jail card.”

The Guelph Police Service is still trying to dismiss McArthur. The penalty hearing has faced several delays and cancellations so far. It is set to continue on Friday.