EX-CITY POLICE OFFICER FINED $1,000

Gave Classified Information To Hells Associate

A Winnipeg police officer could have caused a "devastating" tragedy
when he looked up classified information on behalf of an angry Hells
Angels associate seeking payback for a drug deal gone bad, Manitoba's
top judge said Tuesday.

Bruce Huynen, 40, now has a criminal record after provincial court
Chief Judge Ray Wyant rejected his bid for a conditional discharge and
fined him $1,000.

Huynen pleaded guilty earlier this year to unauthorized use of a
police computer in a disturbing case that has already cost him his
job. Court was told he conducted a dozen illegal name, address and
background searches in 2003 and 2004.

"He knew, or ought to have known, the potential devastating impact
that information might have in the wrong hands," said Wyant.

"Any responsible individual ought to have withdrawn from this
behaviour and, as a police officer, Mr. Huynen should have done more."

Huynen was caught in police wiretap conversations discussing $462,000
in missing money, background of the biker and results of the computer
checks with his Calgary-based friend, Gordon McPake, court was told.
McPake had asked Huynen for help on behalf of his own friend, an
associate of the Manitoba Hells who'd been ripped off by his
ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend.

The man wanted McPake to use his police connections to help track the
pair down and recover his money, which was obtained through the
proceeds of crime, court was told.

"An offence by a police officer and misuse of power is an offence
against the community," said Wyant.

"He was no ordinary citizen. He occupied a special position of
trust."

Huynen was aware of the biker's background, as he checked Winnipeg
police records that had him flagged as a "hazard" and a Hells associate.

"I'll drive to Thunder Bay tomorrow and (expletive) kill him," McPake
tells Huynen of the woman's new boyfriend, suspecting they'd headed
east. He also conveyed to Huynen how angry the biker was over getting
burned.

"I'll beat him right into a (expletive) coma," McPake
continues.

Crown prosecutor Marty Minuk said Huynen and McPake also discussed the
biker's involvement in the drug trade. On one occasion, McPake
mentions the man being involved in a "big deal" involving a
"(expletive) load of drugs". Huynen faced a maximum sentence of 10
years in prison, but Minuk didn't make any specific recommendation for
penalty.

Weinstein argued his client has suffered enough, having already
resigned from his $65,000-a-year job when it was clear he was likely
going to be fired following 17 years of service.

"He thought of helping his friend here and didn't think this would
cost him his career," Weinstein said Tuesday outside court.

Huynen is now making about $33,000 a year installing ducts and is
having trouble finding other work because of the publicity surrounding
his case. He recently applied for his real estate licence.

"In hindsight, I see I've made some poor decisions. All I was doing is
looking out for my friend," he told court during sentencing
submissions in August.

Huynen said he didn't receive any payment for helping McPake and never
had knowledge of criminal activity taking place or interfered with any
ongoing investigations.

Weinstein had suggested other police officers routinely conduct
illegal computer checks as favours for friends and relatives without
even being charged or punished.

"It's not an excuse to say that everyone else does it," Wyant said
Tuesday.

Huynen first drew the suspicion of RCMP in late 2003 while they were
in the early stages of investigating a massive North America ephedrine
smuggling operation with ties to Manitoba. One of the key police
targets was the Hells associate now connected to Huynen. RCMP noticed
Huynen was running background checks on the target through the secure
police computer systems and contacted Winnipeg police, who began an
internal investigation.

Winnipeg police began tracking Huynen's movements and obtained a
warrant to wiretap his telephone. Hundreds of conversations were
monitored over the course of several months.

Huynen was arrested in September 2004 at the exact time police in
Canada and the United States conducted a series of early morning raids
connected to the ephedrine investigation. The Hells biker was one of
those arrested. He remains before the courts.