About Simon Borys

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Biography

I am a law student at Queen’s University in Kingston, a former police officer, and an aspiring criminal lawyer.

As a police officer I dealt with the Criminal Code and other federal and provincial laws and I received an extensive amount of training across Canada and the United States in the areas of interviewing and interrogation, firearms, and criminal interdiction (drug smuggling enforcement), commercial vehicle enforcement, and commercial vehicle safety and compliance.

Although I began my career in policing, I always felt a strong commitment towards upholding and defending the rights of citizens.  In fact, being a police officer gave me the opportunity to see, first hand, just how important this is in practice.  My experiences in policing led to my decision to leave the profession and enter law school.  My goal is to practice criminal and regulatory defence when I graduate.

I have a passion for continuing education in the areas of policing and law and I am a part time instructor in the Police Foundations program at Trillium College.  I am an active member in a number of organizations, including the Criminal Lawyers Association, the Prison Lawyers Association, the Canadian Bar Association, the Ontario Bar Association, and the Canadian Transport Lawyer’s Association.  I also sit on the editorial board of Briefly Speaking, the Ontario Bar Association’s magazine.

In addition, I maintain a blog entitled Simon Says, where I attempt to share my knowledge and experiences from policing by dispelling policing myths and demystifying the law.  My posts are frequently reprinted by internet and print media outlets and I am often contacted by the media to comment on various legal issues.

 

Curriculum Vitae

Education

Juris Doctor, Queen’s University Law School, 2010-2013

Basic Constable Training Certificate, Ontario Police College, 2006

Advanced Outdoor Education Certificate, WSC Wilderness Survival School/Survival in the Bush, 2003

Bachelor of Arts: Philosophy, Legal Studies and Criminology, St. Jerome’s University/University of Waterloo, 2001-2004

Additional Courses and Training

Continuing Legal Education 2009-
7th Bi-Annual Law of Search and Seizure in Canada (Osgoode)
Impaired and Over 80 2011 (LSUC)
Criminal Lawyers Association Annual Fall Conference 2011 (CLA)
Detention, Arrest, Interviewing and Interrogation (Osgoode)
Complete Guide to Search Warrants (LSUC)
Learning from the Legends of Cross Examination (CLA)
Montebello Conference 2011 (CCLA/DCAO)
Garage Series 2011 Lecture III – Financial Crimes
Garage Series 2011 Lecture II – Criminality and Mental Health
New Lawyer Practice Series – Criminal Law 2011 (LSUC)
Garage Series 2011 Lecture I – Ethics and Practice of Criminal Law
Institute 2011 Criminal Justice – Stop, Search and Silence (OBA)
Criminal Law and the Charter 2010 (LSUC)
Forensic Pathology (Ontario Forensic Pathology Service)
Criminal Lawyers Association Annual Fall Conference 2010 (CLA)
Strategic Legal Writing: Preparing Persuasive Documents (OBA)
Canadian Bar Association Annual Conference 2010 (CBA)
Find it Like a Pro – Internet Investigative Techniques for Lawyers (Avvo)
New Lawyer Practice Series – Criminal Law 2010 (LSUC)

Waterloo Regional Police In House Training, 2006-2009
Evidentiary Issues for Common Offences Under Highway Traffic Act
Suspect Apprehension Pursuit
Emergency Scene Management
Use of Force
Mental Health Issues & Mental Health Court
Drug and Alcohol Impairment
Immediate Rapid Deployment
Excited Delirium
Taser
Digital Evidence Recovery and Analysis
High Risk Vehicle Stops
Laser Operator
Radar Operator

Firearms Training, 2003-2009
Centre Axis  Relock (Sabre Tactical)
Glock Pistol (WRPS)
Basic Handgun Techniques Levels I-III (Smith &Wesson Academy, Springfield, MA)
Instinctive Point Shooting (Rayburn Law Enforcement Training, Springfield, MA)
Advanced Handgun Defense (Rayburn Law Enforcement Training, Springfield, MA)
Ontario Handgun  Safety Course
Canadian Non-Restricted Firearms Safety Course

Policing Courses, 2002-2009
Non-Accusatory Interview Techniques (Blueline)
Street Drug Awareness (Blueline)
Characteristics of an Armed Person (Canadian Police Knowledge Network/Toronto Police)
Firearms Identification for Public Agents (Canadian Firearms Safety Center)
Highway Truck Interdiction (York Regional Police)
Pipeline/Convoy – Advanced Commercial Motor Vehicle Criminal Interdiction (RCMP/US Department of Transportation)
Terrorism In Your Backyard (Niagara Regional Police)
Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Seminar (Biker Enforcement Unit)
Basic Pipeline/Convoy (RCMP)
Investigative Communications – Interviewing
Search and Seizure: Warrantless Authority (Canadian Police Knowledge Network /RCMP)

Employment

Present

Police Foundations Instructor, Trillium College, 2011-

Upper Year Tutor, Queen’s Law School, 2011-

Past

Website Update Project, Criminal Lawyers’ Association, 2011

Police Constable, Regional Police Service in South Western Ontario, 2006-2009

Police Communications Operator, University of Waterloo, 2005-2006

Teaching Assistant – Philosophy, St. Jerome’s University, 2003-2005

Student Security, University of Waterloo, 2002-2005

Elephant Handler, African Lion Safari, 2000-2001

Group Membership and Associations

Present

Canadian Transport Lawyers Association, 2011-

Prison Lawyers Association, 2011-

Frontenac Law Association, 2010-

Kingston Criminal Defence Lawyers Association, 2010-

Queen’s Criminal Law Club, 2010, 2011- (President)

Criminal Lawyers’ Association, 2010-

Ontario Bar Association, 2010-

Canadian Bar Association, 2010-

Past

Waterloo Regional Police Association, 2006-2009

Honours and Awards

Annual Ontario Police Fitness Pin, 2006-2008

3 Letters of Commendation from Waterloo Regional Police Divisional Commander, for work on New Hamburg Park Patrol Program 2005, 2006,

3 Letters of Commendation from Mayor Wayne Roth, Wilmot Township, for work on New Hamburg Park Patrol Program, 2005, 2006

Publications and Speaking Engagements

Quoted in Boost Your Job Prospects with a Good Online Profile, an article in Canadian Lawyer 4Students

Quoted in “Google Juice: Refreshment for Your Career”, an article in Briefly Speaking, the Ontario Bar Association’s magazine, Student Edition

Quoted in “To Blog or Not”, an article in the ABA Student Lawyer magazine

Quoted in “Collecting and Authenticating Online Evidence”, an article in The Canadian Bar Association’s PracticeLink

Quoted in “The Social Network”, an article in The Lawyer’s Weekly

Panelist for Human Rights Law Club discussion on policing and the G20, Queen’s Law School, 2010

MSN Auto – How to Defend Yourself in Traffic Court

Does a Police Officer Have to Show Up for Court Article Published, Chicago Sun-Times

Does a Police Officer Have to Show Up for Court Article Published, Beacon News

Blog Mention, Canadian Lawyer 4Students Magazine, 2010

Motor Vehicle Lighting Laws in Ontario, OntarioTicket.com, 2010

Radar Article Published, Chicago Sun-Times, 2010

Radar Article Published, Naperville Sun, 2010

9 Habits That Trigger Road Rage, MSN Auto Online, 2010

Presentation to 4th year Health Studies class of 20 students on Policing and Mental Health Issues, University of Waterloo, 2008

Presentation to Blair Road Summer Camp group of 26 teens on Internet Safety, Blair Road Public School, 2007

Volunteer Work

Present

Editorial Board for Briefly Speaking (Ontario Bar Association magazine), 2011-

Criminal Lawyers Association Fall Conference Committee, 2011

Past

Kingston Criminal Defence Lawyers Association Continuing Legal Education Ad Hoc Committee, 2010-2011

Queen’s Legal Aid, Queen’s Law School, 2010-2011 (September-April)

Queen’s Law Journal, Queen’s Law School, 2010 (July–September)

Board of Directors Member/Treasurer, Le Marche Condominium, 2009

Park Patrol, New Hamburg/Baden Township, 2005-2007

Wrestling Coach, St. Mary’s High School, 2002-2006