B.C. Mountie given two years probation for shooting man

DUNCAN, B.C. – A Vancouver Island Mountie found guilty of aggravated assault after shooting a man during a traffic stop has been sentenced to two years probation.

Nanaimo RCMP Const. David Pompeo will also have to serve 240 hours of community service within the next 18 months.

In his ruling today, provincial court Judge Josiah Woodsaid the officer appeared to be a responsible RCMP member, but he showed poor judgement on that night in September 2009 when he shot William Gillespie.

Wood also noted that a more severe sentence, such as jail time or a firearms prohibition, would cause Pompeo to lose his job.

At trial, Pompeo testified that he had pulled Gillespie over in Chemainus on Vancouver Island for suspected drunk driving, and then shot Gillespie in the shoulder because he thought the man was going to attack him.

Gillespie, who has launched a civil suit against Pompeo, called the sentence very disappointing. (SunFM)