DECEIT STUNS CITY'S POLICE

Mountie says he and colleagues never suspected ex-partner was leaking info
to crooks

For months, Penticton RCMP Const. Terry Jacklin worked side by side with
Const. Mark Webb without the slightest suspicion his partner had gone bad.

Webb, a former member of the Penticton detachment's task force on property
crime and drugs, was sentenced to two years in federal prison this week
after he pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana for the purpose of
trafficking and obstruction of justice.

Jacklin recalled Wednesday he was in charge of the unit when Webb, then a
uniformed officer, joined the squad in September 1998.

"I was his supervisor and his partner when the allegations surfaced in
March of 1999," said Jacklin, who worked every shift alongside Webb. When
he learned of Webb's involvement in crime, he was stunned.

"I guess the biggest thing was the disbelief.

"I was already aware there was a leak in our office - someone was supplying
information to the criminal element.

"We didn't suspect Webb. His demeanour did not change during the whole
course of the investigation. He functioned as a police officer. I never,
ever observed anything that caused me concern."

But by March 1999, it became clear Webb was involved in the theft of 13.5
kilograms of marijuana that should have gone into evidence.

The RCMP's corruption unit in Vancouver got involved. The investigation at
that point was focused entirely on Webb. It ended with his arrest on Aug.
18, 1999.

"We had to ensure there was nobody else in our office who was corrupted
with him," said Jacklin.

There wasn't.

Jacklin feels betrayed by his former partner.

"This was a guy I trusted my life to," he said.

"You have to rely on the person standing behind you. I put my life in his
hands. I had no reason to doubt he would be there if I needed him."

Webb was described as outgoing, friendly and apparently good at his job.

The day after his arrest, detachment staff was called together.

"In that meeting, it became very apparent that people just couldn't believe
Mark was capable of doing what he was alleged to have done," recalled
Jacklin. "His close friends were in tears. He had basically let his friends
down."

Webb's name doesn't come up often around the detachment now.

"Staff has disassociated with him. He betrayed their trust," said Jacklin.

Webb apologized in court Tuesday, before he was sentenced, but Jacklin
wonders about his sincerity.

"There was five of us in the courtroom all former co-workers and, I would
say, friends. He didn't turn and face us when he made the apology."

Jacklin is satisfied, however, knowing Webb will do federal time.

"It will dissuade others in our organization from becoming involved in
illegal activities," he said.

Insp. Dan Fudge of the Penticton detachment said Webb got what was coming
to him.

"Mr. Webb betrayed the trust put in him by our organization and his fellow
members," Fudge said Wednesday. "I think the sentence is appropriate.
Certainly, I think the general view here is the sentence should have
higher, but overall we're satisfied."

Corruption safeguards within the RCMP have not changed since Webb was first
investigated, said Fudge, adding that Webb's conviction shows the Mounties
are capable of policing their own.