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charge, for discreditable conduct, was withdrawn as part of a plea agreement.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.