Frank M. D'Andrea

The appellant police officer was convicted of neglect of duty for leaving his assigned patrol area without permission or sufficient cause.

He appealed the conviction, arguing he had sufficient cause because he accompanied another officer to a violent domestic call outside his area.

The Ontario Civilian Police Commission dismissed the appeal, finding that even if his attendance was justified, he had adequate opportunity to notify control via radio and failed to do so, which vitiated his defence of sufficient cause.