Pubdate: Sun, 23 Mar 2003 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2003 The Province Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Author: Adrienne Tanner, The Province SIX POLICE OFFICERS HIT WITH ASSAULT CHARGES Assault charges have been laid against six Vancouver police officers who allegedly beat up three suspected drug dealers in Stanley Park on Jan. 14. All six are charged with three counts of assault, assault with a weapon and obstruction of justice. They are: Constables James Kenny, 33, Raymond Gardner, 31, Brandon Steele, 30, Gabriel Kojima, 23, Duncan Gemmell, 38, and Christopher Cronmiller, 31. Kenny is also facing one additional obstruction charge. None has more than 41/2 years of experience as a police officer. The prosecution will be led by Robert Gourlay, a senior criminal lawyer from Vancouver. In a short news release, the Vancouver Police Department stated that the officers were suspended Jan. 24, immediately after the department learned of the accusations. All six remain suspended with pay in accordance with labour law, the news release states. The news release also included a brief statement from Chief Const. Jamie Graham. "We must all understand and respect that criminal law is based on fairness and that all persons must not be convicted before their legal right to a fair trial," it said in part. The alleged assaults were reported to management by a concerned Vancouver police officer. In later interviews, the alleged victims told The Province they were rounded up by police, driven to Stanley Park, beaten and left to walk home shoeless. The allegations arose just two months after the release of the Pivot report, in which 50 people in the Downtown Eastside swore affidavits complaining of abuse at the hands of Vancouver police. The affidavits give examples of beatings that resulted in smashed teeth and broken bones and describe "Starlight Tours" where perceived undesirables are picked up and dumped in neighbourhoods far from home. - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl