CHARGES AGAINST COPS REVEALED

Officers to face discipline tribunal Feb. 15

Eight Toronto cops who face corruption-related Police Act and
criminal charges over missing funds intended for drug informants,
return to a discipline tribunal later this month.

Their lawyer, Harry Black, failed last week in an attempt to have
details of the Police Act charges sealed "until such time as the
criminal proceedings are concluded."

Black told tribunal head, Supt. Ed Hoey, there's a "real concern"
about possible witnesses in the parallel criminal case learning about
the contents of the police service's accusations against the eight.

But Hoey turned down Black's request and yesterday the Toronto Police
released the allegations to the press after Black apparently decided
he would not appeal Hoey's ruling.

In one of the charges, the most senior of the officers, Staff Sgt.
John Schertzer, who was involved in the investigation of drug
dealers, allegedly secured $1,200 to be paid for information from a
confidential informant.

Informant Didn't Get Money

"You advised that $1,200 was paid to the confidential informant on
Jan. 16, 1998," alleges the Statement of Particulars of a charge
under the Police Services Act.

"Investigation has revealed that the confidential informant did
supply information to you, but did not anticipate or receive money
from you," the charge document alleges.

Although $1,200 is the largest amount, there are numerous similar allegations.

Police allege that Det.-Const. James Leslie and Det.-Const. Sean
McGuinness met on March 4, 1999 with an informant that they paid $300
- -- although McGuinness was allegedly advanced $500 to pay the
informant.

McGuinness is also accused in a separate Police Act charge of phoning
an informant with information that "police officers would probably"
be in touch regarding money advanced.

"You instructed the informant not to talk to those officers and to
call you after the officers left," the charges allege.

"Your instructions, if followed, were designed to interfere with a
potential investigation ..." the charges allege.

The eight officers -- who appear at Police Headquarters on Feb. 15 --
are charged with 99 Police Service Act violations and 70 criminal
offences stemming from an internal probe.

Also charged are Det.-Const. John Reid, Det.-Const. Joseph Miched,
Det. Const. Raymond Pollard, Det.-Const. Jaroslaw Cieslik and
Det.-Const. Steven Correia.

Black has said his clients will plead not guilty and a central issue
at trial will be the credibility of certain witnesses.