Pubdate: Sun, 19 Sep 2004 Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2004, Canoe Limited Partnership. Contact: http://www.canoe.com/NewsStand/TorontoSun/home.html Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457 Author: Mark Bonokoski Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) REVENGE OF THE TOP COPS Mark Bonokoski Reveals Police Barred a Top Psychiatrist after He Wrote a Scathing Report SHORTLY AFTER his psychiatric assessment of junkie undercover drug cop Robert Kelly was tabled before the police tribunal that will decide his fate at month's end, Dr. Peter Collins was banned from Toronto Police headquarters by a confidential "watch notice" bearing his mug shot. "Dr. Peter Collins' access to police facilities has been revoked," read the handwritten directive. "He is not to be allowed into the non-public areas of the building, only with police escort. Any attempts to enter are to be reported to Staff Inspector Bruce." The memo was dated Oct. 2, 2003, at 1025 hrs., and signed by L. A. Bruce, Staff Inspector, Duty Operations Centre. Dr. Peter Collins, a world-renowned forensic psychiatrist with vast international credentials, has a short-version CV that runs 40 pages. He has been closely connected to Toronto Police since 1989, primarily as a widely sought consultant to the Emergency Task Force, the sex-crime unit and the homicide squad. Reached at OPP headquarters in Orillia, where he also heads the forensic psychiatry unit with the behavioural sciences section, Dr. Collins acknowledged his unprecedented banishment, conceded it was "sparked" by the Robert Kelly case, but then refused further comment. Collins did indicate, however, that he accepted a verbal apology in April - -- albeit a full seven months after he was ordered to turn in his pass -- from Staff-Supt. Bill Blair and Police Chief Julian Fantino's legal counsel, who met with him on his turf at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, where he is an associate professor of forensic psychiatry. The cop who wrote and posted the notice, Leslie Alexander Bruce, is now retired from the force, but said from his home that he was ordered by Staff-Supt. Emery Gilbert, then head of operations support under Chief Fantino's command, to post the directive "immediately" -- all which explains why it was handwritten and not typed. 'BEST NOT TO ASK' "No, I didn't ask why it was being done," said Bruce. "I found it was best not to ask those types of questions." According to Kelly's lawyer, Peter Brauti, the catalyst to the banishment action was triggered by Dr. Collins' written submission to the tribunal deciding Det.-Const. Kelly's future, and particularly his criticism of police brass for leaving him undercover for so long -- despite his requests to be removed -- and then having no deep-cover counselling program to deal with those who might derail. "Dr. Collins tabled his report and, right after that, he got jammed," said Brauti. "(Collins) was just calling it like it is, and what happened to him is outrageous." Collins' written evaluation of Kelly cited the following: - - "Robert Kelly experienced traumatic events secondary to his work as a drug officer -- the shooting of his partner (Const. Russ Lillie was wounded by a gunshot to the chest in March, 1998, when an undercover drug buy went bad), and having a shotgun pointed at him. In response to cumulative stresses and depression, he developed maladaptive behaviour, including 'self-treating' himself with cocaine." - - "It is important to note that the behaviour exhibited by Kelly is well recognized as being secondary to undercover work. Although he asked to be removed from this type of police work, he was not allowed to do so. If he had been removed from the drug squad, as he requested, he very likely may not have displayed the behaviour that has led him to be presently before the court. There does not appear to be an in-depth undercover stress program in the Toronto Police Service. Many major police agencies have recognized that there are potentially harmful effects to undercover work and have developed such programs." It was Dr. Collins' opinion, as well, that Kelly has been "effectively treated for his (substance abuse) illness and the accompanying stress disorder." "There is no psychiatric reason why he cannot return to police work," Collins wrote. "It goes without saying (however) that this individual should not return to the drug squad." Mark Pugash, director of corporate communications for the Toronto Police Service, admitted it was "not a secret" that police brass had "real issues regarding the Kelly case" when it came to Dr. Collins' assessments. But he also insisted that Collins' criticisms were not the reason for the notice being posted or his pass revoked. "It was (suddenly) realized that (Collins) had unfettered access (to police facilities)," said Pugash. "No one else outside the service had such access. "It was decided that his status had to be 'regularized.' But there was no intention that he be made persona non grata. "There was a misunderstanding, and that's why the apology was extended." - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager