OFFICER CLAIMS PARK BEATING SURPRISED HIM

The assault of a drug dealer from Granville Street by fellow police
officers in Stanley Park caught Vancouver Const. Chris Cronmiller
completely by surprise, he testified yesterday.

Cronmiller, testifying at a police-complaint hearing into the Jan. 14,
2003, pre-dawn incident at the Third Beach parking lot, said he knew at the
time the behaviour was wrong, but he did not step in to stop it.

Asked why he didn't stop the assault on Barry Lawrie, a drug dealer with 28
criminal convictions, Cronmiller replied, "I should have gone forward, but
I didn't. I'm ashamed."

Cronmiller, 29, said he thought he and his partner on patrol that shift,
Gabriel Kojima, had driven to the parking lot only to assist other officers
in "breaching" Lawrie, Grant Wilson and Jason Desjardins. The police
determined the drug dealers had been causing a disturbance on Granville
Street and were being arrested and dropped away from the scene without
charges, in accordance with the police department's breach-of-the-peace policy.

Cronmiller, the four constables and their acting sergeant that shift --
Const. James Kenney -- all pleaded guilty to assault.

Cronmiller, Brandon Steele, Ray Gardner and Kenney were severely
disciplined. Duncan Gemmell and Kojima were fired.

Cronmiller insisted none of the constables kicked any of the three victims,
who were each given a "lecture" by Gardner.

While he was clear on a few matters, Cronmiller was vague on many other
aspects of the events, allowing it was "possible" that officers kicked
Lawrie and Wilson.

Cronmiller said he only took part in the group pushing of Wilson.

While he did not see what may have happened to Wilson's forehead to cause
it to bleed, Cronmiller admitted it could have been his push, since he was
the only one he saw push Wilson high on his torso.