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Pubdate: Sat, 20 Apr 2002 Source: Toronto Star (CN ON) Copyright: 2002 The Toronto Star Contact: http://www.thestar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) POLICE ANONYMOUS It takes courage to admit to a drug or alcohol problem. It takes even more guts to stand before a group of strangers and speak about your struggles. Yet this mix of soul-bearing testimonials, anonymity and trust is at the heart of the recovery programs that have helped thousands of people kick their destructive addictions and resume productive lives. The disturbing news that a Toronto undercover police officer infiltrated one such counselling group in Peterborough puts all this good work at risk. Toronto police officials take pains to say that the objective in the Peterborough case was to keep tabs on a murder suspect, who happened to belong to Narcotics Anonymous. They insist they had no interest in her statements to the group. But that distinction is lost on those who attend these self-help sessions and can see the police action for what it was -- a horrendous breach of trust. "Revelations of this kind of police behaviour will scare people out of Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and related organizations, and will more than likely result in some of them losing their battles with addiction," said Peter Armstrong, president of Renascent, an alcoholic and drug recovery organization. Certainly, the mere suspicion that cops may be posing as a drug addicts or alcoholics to get into these groups is bound to have a chilling effect on those who rely on this kind of therapy for help, especially for the members of Narcotics Anonymous. By using drugs, they've already run afoul of the law. Indeed, the damage may have already been done. In Peterborough, three recovering addicts quit the group after learning an undercover officer had been a member. Cops claim the decision to send officers into such situations is not taken lightly. Nor, they say, is it done often. But with no policy on the books, such assurances ring hollow. Fact is, there's nothing to stop an officer from slipping into the monthly meeting of a local Narcotics Anonymous group in an effort to uncover the neighbourhood drug users. Such a serious issue calls for the voice of the chief. Chief Julian Fantino should immediately reassure the community that his officers will no longer resort to sneaking into therapy and counselling sessions as part of their crime probes. The courts must be prepared to back that message by tossing out any evidence gathered by such egregious investigative methods. Officers have plenty of tools at their disposal to investigate crimes. They don't have to engage in practices that abuse the community's trust. - --- MAP posted-by: Ariel