KINGSTON PEN GUARDS FIRED AMID NARCOTICS ALLEGATIONS

Five guards have been fired from Kingston Penitentiary amid allegations of
professional misconduct.

An Alliance MP told The Canadian Press that drugs are involved, "and that
[information] came from the warden."

Warden Monty Bourke yesterday announced an end to an internal investigation
that began March 1 and ended with the dismissal of five correctional
officers at the maximum-security prison for violating standards of conduct
and discipline.

"As peace officers, respect for the rule of law is fundamental to how we
conduct ourselves, particularly in the treatment of those entrusted to our
custody and care," Bourke wrote in a memo.

'ACCOUNTABLE' FOR SAFETY

"It is extremely important, especially within the correctional environment
where we are accountable for the safeguarding of offenders and for the
protection of the public, that we deal decisively with those who do not
adhere to our fundamental standards of conduct."

The Correctional Service of Canada isn't releasing details of the misdeeds,
pending grievance procedures and an ongoing criminal investigation, said
spokeswoman Theresa Westfall.

"Their behaviour was inappropriate. It violates the code of conduct. That's
all I can say," Westfall said. "We're not releasing details of what they
did because those officers do have the benefit of an internal appeals
process."

MP Randy White, solicitor general's critic for the Canadian Alliance, told
CP that Bourke had said drugs were involved.

The firings come nearly two years after an investigation by the Joint Forces
Unit - RCMP, city police and OPP - raised serious concerns, Westfall said.

The police investigation continues and Michele Paradis, an RCMP
representative, said yesterday that criminal charges could still be laid.

If it turns out that drugs were involved, a simple firing of the guards
won't suffice, said White.

He argued that officers are charged with a certain trust: "That is to make
sure that drugs don't get into prison and things work right."

Solicitor General Lawrence MacAulay said yesterday his department continues
to fight the problem of drugs behind bars and that's why all people entering
prisons, even guards, are searched.

"We haven't completely accomplished the deed," he said, adding that random
samples are finding 11 or 12 per cent of inmates testing positive for drugs,
down from 39 per cent.

"That's still too much," MacAulay said. "What we want to do is send the
message that's unacceptable." The investigation and subsequent dismissals
have been devastating for staff, Westfall said.

"It's upsetting for correctional officers, the majority of whom take their
job very seriously. This is certainly a blow to their profession."