Pubdate: Tue, 30 Sep 2003 Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC) Copyright: 2003 The Vancouver Sun Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477 Author: Lori Culbert HOW A HIGH-TECH MACHINE LED TO A POLICE SCANDAL A new, high-tech gadget designed to detect deception was used by a veteran Saanich police officer during a job interview with a Vancouver policeman who eventually revealed allegations of perjury, evidence-tampering and excessive use of force. Saanich is the first police department in Canada to use the computerized voice stress analyzer (CVSA) -- which is more common in the U.S. -- to determine if suspects are lying, and also relies on the instrument during final job interviews. "The CVSA did play a role in the interview . . . . We use them for pre-employment because integrity issues are a big thing, nowhere more so than policing," said Saanich Constable Chris Horsley. "The interviewer in this case is one of our more senior investigative officers . . . and it was during that background interview that the information came out." The 29-year-old Vancouver police officer, who has been with the city department for three years, knew during the interview in late August that he was being videotaped and subjected to the CVSA, which picks up modulations in voice when an answer isn't honest. During the interview, the officer, whom Vancouver police refuse to name, allegedly claimed to have given false evidence in a criminal trial involving drugs, to have left knives and walkie talkies in his locker instead of tagging them and putting them in an evidence room, and to have possibly overheard Vancouver officers in another room using excessive force. On Aug. 26, Saanich alerted Vancouver police, who wrote a letter to the office of the police complaints commissioner Sept. 2. Three days later, commissioner Dirk Ryneveld ruled the issue was one of "public trust" and ordered an internal investigation. Vancouver police said they planned to make the matter public today after investigating some of the information in the allegations, but were forced to do so Saturday after reporters learned of the case. The officer is suspended with pay. His 30-year-old partner, who has been with Vancouver police for six years, was suspended for four days and is now assigned a desk job while police investigate his testimony at the same drug trial. The recent allegations bring to eight the number of Vancouver officers investigated this year over allegations of corruption and misconduct, but the department has rejected calls by its critics to hold a public inquiry. Spokeswoman Constable Anne Drennan said the force is thorough when it investigates its own, and that the Crown decides whether charges are laid. "I can't understand why anyone would think that we would want to cover up. We want this kind of thing to be dealt with. If there are problem people in our force, we want those people weeded out," she said. "If these allegations are false, we also want that made public." Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell, head of the Vancouver police board, agrees with B.C. Solicitor General Rich Coleman that no public inquiry is needed. "I believe that the majority of citizens in this city trust the police department and believe they are doing a good job," said Campbell. "If I thought for a minute that there was tacit approval of brutality or perjury or any other thing along those lines, I would be discussing that with the chief immediately. I simply don't have that evidence." But Campbell's COPE colleague, Councillor Tim Stevenson, said a public inquiry must now be considered. "We need to have a discussion within our own caucus about whether it's time," he said. Six Vancouver police officers are awaiting trial on charges of assault with a weapon and assault for their alleged roles in beating up three suspected drug dealers in Stanley Park. Vancouver police have also been criticized recently for using excessive force at a riot after a cancelled Guns 'N' Roses concert, and of covering up officer misconduct in the deaths of Frank Paul and Jeff Berg, who died after having contact with officers. Lawyer Terry La Liberte, executive board member of the B.C. Trial Lawyers Association, said there could be concern about the testimony of all Vancouver officers until the name of the 29-year-old officer is released. "I think it does everybody a disservice. If this person is under suspicion, that should be something that should be disclosed to us," La Liberte said. Once the name is released, lawyers may consider launching appeals in cases in which the officer has testified, he added. The drug trial ended in dismissal, but Drennan said the officer's testimony didn't play a role in the outcome. She said the suspect was deported to Honduras by Immigration Canada. The officer has testified in other trials, but Drennan said it is too soon to comment on whether his testimony will be examined in the other hearings. Tom Stamatakis, president of the Vancouver police union, argued there is no proof of a systemic problem in the 1,200-officer department. He argued that 130 complaints filed against Vancouver members this year is relatively small when they respond to an average of 350,000 calls for service and write 100,00 tickets annually. "What would be the point of having an inquiry when I don't think we've even come close to establishing that there are any systemic problems?" Stamatakis asked. "Do police officers make mistakes? Absolutely, they do." But he said the police department responds to those mistakes, citing its investigation into allegations of excessive force against drug dealers in Stanley Park. Most of the nine members of the department's internal investigations unit will be involved in the latest case, and their report --- which is expected to take several weeks -- will go to the police complaints commission. Ryneveld can take one of several avenues: confirm the conclusions and discipline recommended by the Vancouver police; demand more information by ordering an external investigation by another police department; or hold a public inquiry, said Dana Urban, deputy police complaint commissioner. "Usually you see a public hearing when there is a disagreement as to the quality of the investigation, or the decision-making by the police chief," Urban said. Ryneveld could have ordered an external examination into this case in early September but there was not sufficient information to do so then, Urban added. Drennan said it is not uncommon for officers to apply for jobs with other municipal departments. In this case, the officer was originally from Vancouver Island and wanted to move back. The officer and his partner were both on patrol in District 2, which includes the Downtown Eastside. There had been no previous complaints about them. "It's very upsetting and it's a difficult situation for them," Stamatakis said. "One is married and one is not, but they both have families." On Aug. 26, Saanich alerted Vancouver police, who wrote a letter to the office of the police complaints commissioner Sept. 2. Three days later, commissioner Dirk Ryneveld ruled the issue was one of "public trust" and ordered an internal investigation. Vancouver police said they planned to make the matter public today after investigating some of the information in the allegations, but were forced to do so Saturday after reporters learned of the case. The officer is suspended with pay. His 30-year-old partner, who has been with Vancouver police for six years, was suspended for four days and is now assigned a desk job while police investigate his testimony at the same drug trial. The recent allegations bring to eight the number of Vancouver officers investigated this year over allegations of corruption and misconduct, but the department has rejected calls by its critics to hold a public inquiry. Spokeswoman Constable Anne Drennan said the force is thorough when it investigates its own, and that the Crown decides whether charges are laid. "I can't understand why anyone would think that we would want to cover up. We want this kind of thing to be dealt with. If there are problem people in our force, we want those people weeded out," she said. "If these allegations are false, we also want that made public." Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell, head of the Vancouver police board, agrees with B.C. Solicitor-General Rich Coleman that no public inquiry is needed. "I believe that the majority of citizens in this city trust the police department and believe they are doing a good job," said Campbell. "If I thought for a minute that there was tacit approval of brutality or perjury or any other thing along those lines, I would be discussing that with the chief immediately. I simply don't have that evidence." But Campbell's COPE colleague, Councillor Tim Stevenson, said a public inquiry must now be considered. "We need to have a discussion within our own caucus about whether it's time," he said. Six Vancouver police officers are awaiting trial on charges of assault with a weapon and assault for their alleged roles in beating up three suspected drug dealers in Stanley Park. Vancouver police have also been criticized recently for using excessive force at a riot after a cancelled Guns 'N' Roses concert, and of covering up officer misconduct in the deaths of Frank Paul and Jeff Berg, who died after having contact with officers. Lawyer Terry La Liberte, executive board member of the B.C. Trial Lawyers Association, said there could be concern about the testimony of all Vancouver officers until the name of the 29-year-old officer is released. "I think it does everybody a disservice. If this person is under suspicion, that should be something that should be disclosed to us," La Liberte said. Once the name is released, lawyers may consider launching appeals in cases in which the officer has testified, he added. The drug trial ended in dismissal, but Drennan said the officer's testimony didn't play a role in the outcome. She said the suspect was deported to Honduras by Immigration Canada. The officer has testified in other trials, but Drennan said it is too soon to comment on whether his testimony will be examined in the other hearings. Tom Stamatakis, president of the Vancouver police union, argued there is no proof of a systemic problem in the 1,200-officer department. He argued that 130 complaints filed against Vancouver members this year is relatively small when they respond to an average of 350,000 calls for service and write 100,00 tickets annually. "What would be the point of having an inquiry when I don't think we've even come close to establishing that there are any systemic problems?" Stamatakis asked. "Do police officers make mistakes? Absolutely, they do." But he said the police department responds to those mistakes, citing its investigation into allegations of excessive force against drug dealers in Stanley Park. Most of the nine members of the department's internal investigations unit will be involved in the latest case, and their report --- which is expected to take several weeks -- will go to the police complaints commission. Ryneveld can take one of several avenues: confirm the conclusions and discipline recommended by the Vancouver police; demand more information by ordering an external investigation by another police department; or hold a public inquiry, said Dana Urban, deputy police complaint commissioner. "Usually you see a public hearing when there is a disagreement as to the quality of the investigation, or the decision-making by the police chief," Urban said. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin