SULLIVAN SAYS INCIDENTS WITH ADDICTS UNIQUELY QUALIFY HIM FOR POLICE BOARD

Scrutinized For Helping Man Buy Crack And Watching Him Smoke It In Van

Vancouver mayor-elect Sam Sullivan says his dealings with drug
addicts uniquely qualify him to run the police force.

A day after an RCMP probe into his admissions that he supplied a
crack addict with money for drugs became public, Sullivan insisted
his actions don't reflect on his ability to lead the city's police
force, a role he will assume after being sworn in as mayor Dec. 5.

"I believe this has made me uniquely qualified to understand and have
a role in dealing with this problem [of drug addiction]," Sullivan said.

"I truly believe that it doesn't have any bearing on my ability to be
the chair of the police board."

The probe was sparked by police Chief Jamie Graham after he read an
Oct. 1 newspaper article in which Sullivan admitted giving Shawn
Millar money for drugs three years ago and allowing him to smoke them
in his van.

Graham said yesterday he initially went to provincial Conflict of
Interest Commissioner Justice H.A.D. Oliver with his concerns.

"From there I . . . sent a letter to the deputy commissioner of the
RCMP, feeling that it would be more appropriate to have an outside
police department review the circumstances of the story and the
details behind it."

Sullivan has also admitted giving money to a drug-addicted prostitute
to stop her from doing tricks.

Denying his request was politically motivated, Graham said once the
Mounties complete a review of the circumstances -- they say it is not
a full investigation -- a decision will be made whether to send the
file to a Crown prosecutor who will determine if charges will be
laid. He said an analysis of Sullivan's admissions "could lead one to
believe that there could be an offence under the CDSA [Controlled
Drugs and Substances Act] regarding possession of drugs or
facilitation or conspiracy of a drug offence."

Sullivan, who apologized during the election campaign, insists he was
motivated by a desire for a deeper understanding of addiction.

"There are times certainly when I wished that I had done what every
other city councillor does -- sit in my office and rage about the
problem and not actually get down there, roll up my sleeves and start
to understand the problem more."