A former staff sergeant with the Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) has been sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty of breach of trust and obstruction of justice.

Michael Dimini was charged by Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in December 2023 with two counts of assault, breach of trust and obstruction of justice following a nearly two-year investigation.

Dimini was found guilty of breach of trust and obstruction of justice in Thunder Bay’s Ontario Court of Justice in February. One of the assault charges was dismissed and he was acquitted of the other. 

On Wednesday morning, Justice Michael Block handed him a three-year prison term on the breach of trust charge, and two years concurrent on the obstruction charge. He has not been required to submit a DNA sample.

“I’d like to apologize to everybody that has been affected by this,” Dimini, 46, told the court Tuesday, the first day of the sentencing hearing. “It’s been a pretty devastating part of my life.”

Dimini’s trial focused heavily on whether he had reasonable grounds to enter an apartment in November 2020 where police were making arrests.

He showed up unannounced at the scene, while four other officers were outside, to retrieve a stolen TV and tools that belonged to his then father-in-law. He entered the building without a warrant, the court heard.

The court also heard Dimini went into the TBPS computer system and changed another officer’s report about what happened.

“There was no legitimate public purpose contemplated here. The motive was personal,” Block said.

In tears, Dimini spoke about the support he’s received from friends, family, doctors and mental health workers since he was charged. 

“I’m sorry. Obviously, it’s something that I wish I could turn time back and adjust, but unfortunately I cannot — and here we are today,” Dimini said on Tuesday.

“I obviously will never, ever engage in any type of this behaviour ever again.”

More to come