Suspended Ottawa Police Officer Appears on Ontario's Sunshine List with $131K Earnings
An Ottawa police officer who has been suspended with pay since 2023 after being convicted of assault has appeared on Ontario's annual Sunshine List, earning over $131,000 in public funds last year. Const. Goran Beric's inclusion in the 2025 list highlights ongoing controversies surrounding police accountability and compensation in cases of misconduct.
Details of the Assault Conviction and Suspension
Const. Goran Beric was suspended with pay in 2023 following his conviction for assault and assault with a weapon. The charges stemmed from an incident where Beric stepped on a man's neck for approximately two minutes and struck him with a police-issued baton. Ontario Court Justice Janet O'Brien described the victim, Derrick Weyman, as being in an "extremely vulnerable" mental and physical state during the assault.
The court found inconsistencies in Beric's trial testimony and noted significant omissions in his official notes about the incident. Justice O'Brien ruled that the officer's use of force exceeded the lawful range of reasonable and necessary actions. In January 2024, Beric received a sentence of 30 months probation and 200 hours of community service, avoiding jail time.
Disciplinary Proceedings and Ongoing Suspension
In May 2025, Beric faced Ottawa Police Service disciplinary hearings where he was found guilty of three counts of discreditable conduct and two counts of insubordination. The disciplinary tribunal ordered his dismissal from the police service. However, Beric has appealed this decision and remains suspended with pay pending the outcome of his appeal.
The Ottawa Police Service declined to comment when contacted about Beric's continued suspension and Sunshine List appearance. This case raises questions about police accountability mechanisms and the financial implications of lengthy suspension periods with full pay.
Understanding the Ontario Sunshine List
The 2025 Sunshine List, published on March 27, includes all individuals who earned $100,000 or more while working for publicly funded entities in Ontario. This comprehensive database covers employees from various sectors including:
- Police services
- Municipal governments
- School boards
- Hospitals and healthcare organizations
- Public libraries
- Non-profit organizations receiving public funding
Beric's salary of $131,149.79 represents compensation received during his suspension period, drawing attention to policies governing suspended officers' pay.
Other Notable Police Officers on the Sunshine List
Beric is not the only Ottawa police officer with a controversial background to appear on the latest Sunshine List. Const. Daniel Montsion, who was acquitted on charges of manslaughter, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon in connection with the 2016 death of Abdirahman Abdi, earned $284,126.47 in 2025. This represented a 30.82 percent decrease from his 2024 earnings, when he was among the city's top-earning public servants.
Const. Cory Chuchryk, who was demoted last year following a St. Patrick's Day hit-and-run collision in 2024, earned $163,475.40 in 2025. Dozens of other Ottawa Police Service constables also appeared on the Sunshine List with earnings ranging between $100,000 and $200,000.
Top Municipal Earners in Ottawa
Beyond police personnel, the Sunshine List reveals broader patterns in public sector compensation. Ottawa City Manager Wendy Stephanson was the highest-paid municipal employee in 2025, earning $455,234.16, representing a less than one percent increase from her 2024 compensation.
Ottawa Police Service Chief Eric Stubbs ranked as the second-highest-paid public servant, receiving $392,930.02 in 2025. This amount represented a 5.82 percent increase from his previous year's earnings. These figures demonstrate the substantial compensation packages available to senior municipal officials and police leadership in Ontario's capital city.
The appearance of suspended officers on the Sunshine List continues to generate public debate about police accountability, transparency in public sector compensation, and the financial implications of lengthy suspension processes within law enforcement agencies.
