PERRY — A former Perry Township councillor has pleaded guilty to issuing phony firearm safety documents to three of his friends.

Tom Roduck, a 64-year-old retired Halton Region police officer, was charged with producing three fraudulent firearm safety examination license renewals  and one  fraudulent upgrade of a restricted firearm license in 2006. Roduck's lawyer, Peter Ward, told the court his client, who had been a qualified firearm safety inspector since 1994, has no previous record and had earned high scores on written and practical firearm safety tests.

During sentencing at the Parry Sound Courthouse last Thursday, Crown Attorney Wes Beatty told the court Roduck accepted money from applicants and gave them test forms that had already been filled out – never having the three applicants complete the mandatory tests. He said Roducks' crimes were a "breach of trust" and, given his history in public service, he should have known better.

"It flies in the face of everything Mr. Roduck stood for," he said, adding the fraud was reported when "individuals came forward and said 'we can't let this go by'."

He asked that Roduck be prevented from possessing guns for a period of probation and five years thereafter.

Judge Lawrence Klein said Roduck's actions reduced the level of safety in the community, and required him "to apply a penalty that will send a message to like-minded individuals". 

He told Roduck that, as a former cop, he has let everyone down.

"For reasons you can't explain to me you breached the trust of the Chief Firearms officer," he said. "You gave them a lick-and-stick. The question I have is why? Why not administer the test?"

Roduck told the court it was a matter of convenience and his greatest regret is the stress and embarrassment.

"Any sentence today can be no worse that what I've been through in the last year," he said.

The judge fined Roduck $3,000 and sentenced him to serve 15 months on probation, during which time he is prohibited from owning guns. He was also ordered to pay a restitution order of $120 to the three victims – the money they paid for the fake licenses.

Roduck served on Perry Township council from 1997 until 2006.