Pubdate: Fri, 05 May 2006
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2006, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://torontosun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457
Author: Alan Cairns, Toronto Sun
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.)

T.O. COP BLASTS FORCE

'Lack of Integrity,' Officer Says

A key cop in a massive probe into alleged corruption in  the Toronto
Police drug squad is calling for a public  inquiry into the way the
force investigates itself.

Sgt. Jim Cassells, a 29-year Toronto Police veteran  with an
unblemished record, asserts that "numerous"  allegations of police
wrongdoing have been "swept under  the carpet," "minimized," only
partially probed, or  have fallen by the wayside amid interference
from some  senior officers.

"It's all about the truth ... and the truth is going to  be very
painful for the Toronto Police," Cassells told  the Toronto Sun and
the CBC in an exclusive interview.

For the past four years, Cassells has been a key  investigator in the
RCMP-led probe that led to criminal  charges against Staff-Sgt. John
Schertzer and five  other cops on his drug team.

Cassells refused to reveal specifics of his  allegations, saying he
does not want to jeopardize  ongoing court proceedings.

He is also concerned he would lose the protection that  he gets under
"whistle-blower" legislation.

"I will give no names, no dates, no places ... but  there are
complaints about police (conduct) that are  not being processed ...
assaults ... that are not being  investigated fully," he said.

Cassells is going public weeks after an internal charge  of misconduct
was laid against him for talking to media  "without proper authority"
about an "ongoing" internal  probe.

Cassells said he met the reporter in November "for all  the right
reasons" and that night detailed his concerns  to internal affairs
head Staff-Sgt. Chris White.

The only action was the Police Services Act charge that  was laid
against him, Cassells said.

"I know why they didn't get back to me ... they didn't  want to hear
the answer," he said.

Cassells said his prosecution will put the entire  Toronto Police
internal affairs process on trial.

"They have a lot bigger problems than one policeman who  speaks with
the media," he said.

"Ultimately, I believe a public inquiry is probably  required ... I
honestly believe a third party needs to  review how we conduct
ourselves in investigations,"  Cassells said.

More than two years ago Schertzer and five other former  Central Field
Command (CFC) drug cops -- Steve Correia,  Joe Miched, Raymond
Pollard, Rick Benoit and Ned Maodus  -- were charged with conspiracy
to obstruct justice.

Another 34 charges -- obstructing justice, perjury,  theft, extortion
and assault causing bodily harm --  were also laid against some
individuals.

Preliminary Hearing

The charges stem from allegations of a police assault,  extortion,
thefts of cash and drugs, and falsification  of notes, police records,
court testimony and search  warrant affidavits.

A four-month preliminary hearing before Superior Court  of Ontario
Justice James Blacklock wrapped up last week  and a decision on
whether a trial will be held is  expected this summer.

If the case does go to trial, it is certain to be  challenged under
the Charter of Rights because of  delays.

The six drug cops return to Old City Hall this morning,  when
Blacklock will ask their lawyers for positions on  a CBC bid to access
exhibits filed at the preliminary  hearing.

The drug squad probe -- initiated in 2001 by former  chief Julian
Fantino and led by RCMP Staff-Supt. John  Neily -- has been full of
controversy.

During the probe, about 200 major drug trafficking  prosecutions were
stayed and hundreds of alleged  criminals set free.

And in a series of sealed affidavits that were filed  during the drug
squad probe and made public weeks after  the January 2004 arrests,
Neily alleged that "evidence  of criminal activity exists against 17
members" of the  CFC drug squads.

At one point, he claimed that evidence supported 122  criminal charges
associated with 28 separate cases.

"I am attempting to identify only ... the most serious  offences,"
Neily wrote in one affidavit.

'Criminal Behaviour'

In another affidavit, Neily alleged that 12 cops were  involved in
"serious criminal behaviour" and one was  trafficking drugs.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

Fantino told media at the time of the arrests that the  problems were
"isolated."

Cassells said he looks forward to his May 11 appearance  before the
police tribunal because it is "an  opportunity to bring the truth out."

Cassells said he wants to stress he is not a  "disgruntled employee,"
but an average cop who believes  the Toronto Police should stick to
the "core values"  the service trumpets in the media.

"Honesty and integrity ... it is posted in every police  station. It
is on our website. It is part of every  promotional process," he said.

"We preach them as an organization. I believe there has  been a
serious lack of integrity in the professional  standards (unit) I have
been exposed to."

At various stages in the probe, lawyers Clayton Ruby,  Edward Sapiano
and Peter Biro have demanded an inquiry. 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake