A Peel Regional Police officer has been docked 20 days pay in a case of sexual harassment in which he grabbed and threatened to strangle a fellow female officer after calling her ‘bangable’ at an off-duty function at a Mississauga restaurant.

In a Police Services Act disciplinary hearing that the presiding officer, Peel Supt. Colleen Fawcett, called a “serious” case of sexual harassment, Const. Lyndon Locke, a 16-year-member of the force who currently works in 12 Division, was docked 20 days pay on Sept. 2 for his actions at a Boston Pizza restaurant at 1510 Aimco Blvd. in the early morning hours of Jan. 31, 2015.

Locke pleaded guilty to discreditable conduct.

The hearing heard that Locke and other off-duty officers attended the restaurant as part of a farewell gathering for a female officer who was being transferred from 12 Division.

Locke approached the female officer and was comparing her to other police women and described her as being “bangable,” Fawcett heard in an agreed statement of facts. He also commented that had she not have been with her husband then she would be with him. Locke said this was a joke.

The hearing heard Locke attempted to converse with the officer throughout the evening, grabbing her right thigh at one point and also grabbing her ponytail and wrapping it around his hand, “close to her head with a strong hold.”

Locke then pulled out a tie from his jacket and stated in a serious manner “I am going to wrap this around your neck and f---ing strangle you with it.” Locke has no memory of making this statement, according to the agreed statement of facts.

The female officer was “stunned and shocked” and also frightened by what she heard, according to the ruling. The following day, she made a formal complaint to her supervisor, sparking an internal investigation.

“Constable Locke's misconduct is serious. Constable Locke made a number of sexual and inappropriate comments to (the officer). Constable Locke also touched (the officer) on the thigh and pulled her hair several times,” Fawcett said in her ruling on penalty. “Constable Locke's behaviour was highly inappropriate and unwanted. Constable Locke's behaviour was offensive to (the officer) and caused her extreme distress. The sexual harassment and behaviour of Constable Locke is serious.”

Fawcett said a punishment is warranted in this case so that other officers know this type of misconduct will not be tolerated.