Pubdate: Sat, 03 Feb 2001
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2001, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  333 King St. E., Toronto, Ontario M5A 3X5 Canada
Fax: (416) 947-3228
Website: http://www.canoe.ca/TorontoSun/
Forum: http://www.canoe.ca/Chat/newsgroups.html Author: Michael Clement

CHARGES AGAINST COPS REVEALED

Officers to face discipline tribunal Feb. 15

Eight Toronto cops who face corruption-related Police Act and 
criminal charges over missing funds intended for drug informants, 
return to a discipline tribunal later this month.

Their lawyer, Harry Black, failed last week in an attempt to have 
details of the Police Act charges sealed "until such time as the 
criminal proceedings are concluded."

Black told tribunal head, Supt. Ed Hoey, there's a "real concern" 
about possible witnesses in the parallel criminal case learning about 
the contents of the police service's accusations against the eight.

But Hoey turned down Black's request and yesterday the Toronto Police 
released the allegations to the press after Black apparently decided 
he would not appeal Hoey's ruling.

In one of the charges, the most senior of the officers, Staff Sgt. 
John Schertzer, who was involved in the investigation of drug 
dealers, allegedly secured $1,200 to be paid for information from a 
confidential informant.

Informant Didn't Get Money

"You advised that $1,200 was paid to the confidential informant on 
Jan. 16, 1998," alleges the Statement of Particulars of a charge 
under the Police Services Act.

"Investigation has revealed that the confidential informant did 
supply information to you, but did not anticipate or receive money 
from you," the charge document alleges.

Although $1,200 is the largest amount, there are numerous similar allegations.

Police allege that Det.-Const. James Leslie and Det.-Const. Sean 
McGuinness met on March 4, 1999 with an informant that they paid $300 
- -- although McGuinness was allegedly advanced $500 to pay the 
informant.

McGuinness is also accused in a separate Police Act charge of phoning 
an informant with information that "police officers would probably" 
be in touch regarding money advanced.

"You instructed the informant not to talk to those officers and to 
call you after the officers left," the charges allege.

"Your instructions, if followed, were designed to interfere with a 
potential investigation ..." the charges allege.

The eight officers -- who appear at Police Headquarters on Feb. 15 -- 
are charged with 99 Police Service Act violations and 70 criminal 
offences stemming from an internal probe.

Also charged are Det.-Const. John Reid, Det.-Const. Joseph Miched, 
Det. Const. Raymond Pollard, Det.-Const. Jaroslaw Cieslik and 
Det.-Const. Steven Correia.

Black has said his clients will plead not guilty and a central issue 
at trial will be the credibility of certain witnesses.
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