Pubdate: Tue, 09 May 2006 Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON) Copyright: 2006 The Ottawa Citizen Contact: http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326 Author: Andrew Seymour Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) OFFICER ADMITS TAKING DRUGS FROM EVIDENCE Constable Also Says He Bought Crack Cocaine While On Duty An Ottawa police officer admitted to buying crack cocaine while on duty and taking the drug from evidence for his personal use while pleading guilty to eight charges under the Police Services Act yesterday. Standing in front of hearing officer Terrence Kelly, Const. Kevin Hall pleaded guilty to five counts of discreditable conduct, two counts of corrupt practice and one count of neglect of duty. A ninth charge, for discreditable conduct, was withdrawn as part of a plea agreement. Const. Hall, who was suspended with pay in December, admitted to seizing crack cocaine during traffic stops in November 2004 and September 2005 and keeping a portion of the drugs for his own use. The six-year veteran also admitted to taking crack cocaine from a Health Canada evidence exhibit envelope following a court appearance on a drug case in August. Const. Hall also acknowledged taking a "small quantity" of crack cocaine from two bags of drugs submitted for destruction at the Ottawa police drug depository on Greenbank Road in September, as well as buying "on one or more occasions crack cocaine for personal use while on or off duty" between Oct. 1, 2004, and Oct. 1, 2005. All eight of the offences occurred when Const. Hall was a west division neighbourhood officer. Const. Hall and his lawyer, Steven Welchner, declined to comment on the guilty plea yesterday. Mr. Welchner did introduce a doctor's report as well as reports by two counsellors, including one specializing in chemical dependency, as exhibits. Prosecutor Robert Houston would not comment on what punishment the police department would seek. However, during yesterday's hearing, Mr. Houston filed a notice for increased penalty, which will allow police to seek a punishment up to and including dismissal from the force. Const. Hall could also be demoted or suspended without pay from anywhere from several days to several months. Mr. Kelly, a retired deputy chief from York Regional police, is to hear sentencing submissions on Sept. 26 and 27 when the hearing resumes. The charges were laid under the province's Police Services Act, which governs the behaviour of law enforcement officials and carries less harsh penalties than the Criminal Code of Canada. Ottawa police professional standards Sgt. Jacques Corbeil said following the hearing that evidentiary issues prevented police from charging Const. Hall criminally. "The rules of evidence in criminal matters did not permit the use of the evidence gathered, therefore no criminal charges could be laid," said Sgt. Corbeil. "The Police Services Act is an administrative proceeding with different rules for evidence." At the time the Police Service Act charges were laid in December, Ottawa police Chief Vince Bevan said a complaint made in October led to an internal investigation by the Professional Standards Section. Chief Bevan declined to comment on the case yesterday. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom