Pubdate: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 Source: Globe and Mail (Canada) Copyright: 2005, The Globe and Mail Company Contact: http://www.globeandmail.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168 Author: Rod Mickleburgh POLICE CHIEF DEFENDS MAYOR-ELECT PROBE Sullivan, Who'll Be Police Board Chairman, Once Gave Addicts Money To Buy Drugs Vancouver Police Chief Jamie Graham is defending his decision to ask the RCMP to review incidents from mayor-elect Sam Sullivan's past in which he gave money to addicts to buy illegal drugs. Talking to reporters yesterday, Mr. Graham said he was unsure whether a conflict might exist between Mr. Sullivan's actions and his future role as chairman of the Vancouver Police Board, a post traditionally filled by the city's mayor. After talking it over with the province's conflict commissioner, the Vancouver police chief decided to submit the matter to the RCMP to investigate. During the mayoral campaign, it came to light that, about seven years ago, Mr. Sullivan had provided money to a prostitute for several weeks to allow her to buy drugs without having to go back on the street. In another incident years later, Mr. Sullivan gave money to a drug addict to purchase crack cocaine and watched him smoke it in his van. Chief Graham denied that his decision to pass the issue on to the RCMP was political, saying he had no choice as head of the Vancouver Police Department. "I thought it would be prudent to have a careful look at this, because of the possible conflict with the Vancouver police and Mr. Sullivan as the possible future chair of the police board," the police chief said. "I thought that might warrant an outside agency to look at this." Mr. Sullivan has apologized for both incidents, explaining that he was simply trying to understand the street culture of hard-core drug addicts. The RCMP confirmed on Monday that Chief Graham had asked them to probe what spokesman Sergeant John Ward called "the self-allegations by Mr. Sullivan." At this point, however, it is not a formal police investigation, but a review to determine the facts of the case and whether further action is warranted. Mr. Sullivan has been a member of city council, representing the conservative NPA party, since 1993. Yesterday, his wheelchair surrounded by reporters, Mr. Sullivan lashed out at the sudden controversy over his past, noting that voters knew about the incidents when they narrowly elected him mayor. "I've had a full public review on all these matters. It was called the election campaign," he said. "It's been very difficult and I just want to get on with being mayor. I've got a lot of work to do, and this is really an annoyance preventing me from doing what I was elected to do." Mr. Sullivan will be sworn in as the city's new mayor on Monday. Meanwhile, outgoing mayor Larry Campbell revealed that he wrote recently to provincial Solicitor-General John Les, asking whether it was appropriate for Mr. Sullivan to sit on the police board, if elected. Mr. Campbell, now a federal Liberal senator, said he received no reply. Mr. Campbell, who strongly supported rival mayoral candidate Jim Green, also sought a legal opinion on whether Mr. Sullivan's actions might have violated the Criminal Code. Vancouver lawyer Leo McGrady said, "In my opinion, there are reasonable grounds for believing that in these circumstances, the offence of aiding possession of a narcotic has been committed." For his part, Mr. Sullivan was outraged by news of Mr. Campbell's involvement in the matter. "He wrote a letter to the Solicitor-General in the middle of an election campaign. He brought it up in the media," the mayor-elect said. "I question whether that was appropriate, when he [Mr. Campbell] was so clearly advocating for Jim Green and against me." Mr. Campbell retorted that his action only looks suspect to Mr. Sullivan. "From my point of view, I didn't do anything. Sam admitted what he did. So the question remains: Is he qualified to sit on the police board with that kind of a background?" Despite his obvious annoyance, Mr. Sullivan wasn't above cracking a joke. "You've got intrigue, conspiracy theories, cabals, prostitution and drugs. And they thought I'd be a boring mayor." - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman