HOW A HIGH-TECH MACHINE LED TO A POLICE SCANDAL

A new, high-tech gadget designed to detect deception was used by a
veteran Saanich police officer during a job interview with a Vancouver
policeman who eventually revealed allegations of perjury,
evidence-tampering and excessive use of force.

Saanich is the first police department in Canada to use the
computerized voice stress analyzer (CVSA) -- which is more common in
the U.S. -- to determine if suspects are lying, and also relies on the
instrument during final job interviews.

"The CVSA did play a role in the interview . . . . We use them for
pre-employment because integrity issues are a big thing, nowhere more
so than policing," said Saanich Constable Chris Horsley.

"The interviewer in this case is one of our more senior investigative
officers . . . and it was during that background interview that the
information came out."

The 29-year-old Vancouver police officer, who has been with the city
department for three years, knew during the interview in late August
that he was being videotaped and subjected to the CVSA, which picks up
modulations in voice when an answer isn't honest.

During the interview, the officer, whom Vancouver police refuse to
name, allegedly claimed to have given false evidence in a criminal
trial involving drugs, to have left knives and walkie talkies in his
locker instead of tagging them and putting them in an evidence room,
and to have possibly overheard Vancouver officers in another room
using excessive force.

On Aug. 26, Saanich alerted Vancouver police, who wrote a letter to
the office of the police complaints commissioner Sept. 2. Three days
later, commissioner Dirk Ryneveld ruled the issue was one of "public
trust" and ordered an internal investigation.

Vancouver police said they planned to make the matter public today
after investigating some of the information in the allegations, but
were forced to do so Saturday after reporters learned of the case.

The officer is suspended with pay. His 30-year-old partner, who has
been with Vancouver police for six years, was suspended for four days
and is now assigned a desk job while police investigate his testimony
at the same drug trial.

The recent allegations bring to eight the number of Vancouver officers
investigated this year over allegations of corruption and misconduct,
but the department has rejected calls by its critics to hold a public
inquiry.

Spokeswoman Constable Anne Drennan said the force is thorough when it
investigates its own, and that the Crown decides whether charges are
laid.

"I can't understand why anyone would think that we would want to cover
up. We want this kind of thing to be dealt with. If there are problem
people in our force, we want those people weeded out," she said. "If
these allegations are false, we also want that made public."

Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell, head of the Vancouver police board,
agrees with B.C. Solicitor General Rich Coleman that no public inquiry
is needed.

"I believe that the majority of citizens in this city trust the police
department and believe they are doing a good job," said Campbell. "If
I thought for a minute that there was tacit approval of brutality or
perjury or any other thing along those lines, I would be discussing
that with the chief immediately. I simply don't have that evidence."

But Campbell's COPE colleague, Councillor Tim Stevenson, said a public
inquiry must now be considered.

"We need to have a discussion within our own caucus about whether it's
time," he said.

Six Vancouver police officers are awaiting trial on charges of assault
with a weapon and assault for their alleged roles in beating up three
suspected drug dealers in Stanley Park.

Vancouver police have also been criticized recently for using
excessive force at a riot after a cancelled Guns 'N' Roses concert,
and of covering up officer misconduct in the deaths of Frank Paul and
Jeff Berg, who died after having contact with officers.

Lawyer Terry La Liberte, executive board member of the B.C. Trial
Lawyers Association, said there could be concern about the testimony
of all Vancouver officers until the name of the 29-year-old officer is
released.

"I think it does everybody a disservice. If this person is under
suspicion, that should be something that should be disclosed to us,"
La Liberte said.

Once the name is released, lawyers may consider launching appeals in
cases in which the officer has testified, he added.

The drug trial ended in dismissal, but Drennan said the officer's
testimony didn't play a role in the outcome. She said the suspect was
deported to Honduras by Immigration Canada.

The officer has testified in other trials, but Drennan said it is too
soon to comment on whether his testimony will be examined in the other
hearings.

Tom Stamatakis, president of the Vancouver police union, argued there
is no proof of a systemic problem in the 1,200-officer department. He
argued that 130 complaints filed against Vancouver members this year
is relatively small when they respond to an average of 350,000 calls
for service and write 100,00 tickets annually.

"What would be the point of having an inquiry when I don't think we've
even come close to establishing that there are any systemic problems?"
Stamatakis asked. "Do police officers make mistakes? Absolutely, they
do."

But he said the police department responds to those mistakes, citing
its investigation into allegations of excessive force against drug
dealers in Stanley Park.

Most of the nine members of the department's internal investigations
unit will be involved in the latest case, and their report --- which
is expected to take several weeks -- will go to the police complaints
commission.

Ryneveld can take one of several avenues: confirm the conclusions and
discipline recommended by the Vancouver police; demand more
information by ordering an external investigation by another police
department; or hold a public inquiry, said Dana Urban, deputy police
complaint commissioner.

"Usually you see a public hearing when there is a disagreement as to
the quality of the investigation, or the decision-making by the police
chief," Urban said.

Ryneveld could have ordered an external examination into this case in
early September but there was not sufficient information to do so
then, Urban added.

Drennan said it is not uncommon for officers to apply for jobs with
other municipal departments. In this case, the officer was originally
from Vancouver Island and wanted to move back.

The officer and his partner were both on patrol in District 2, which
includes the Downtown Eastside. There had been no previous complaints
about them.

"It's very upsetting and it's a difficult situation for them,"
Stamatakis said.

"One is married and one is not, but they both have
families."

On Aug. 26, Saanich alerted Vancouver police, who wrote a letter to
the office of the police complaints commissioner Sept. 2. Three days
later, commissioner Dirk Ryneveld ruled the issue was one of "public
trust" and ordered an internal investigation.

Vancouver police said they planned to make the matter public today
after investigating some of the information in the allegations, but
were forced to do so Saturday after reporters learned of the case.

The officer is suspended with pay. His 30-year-old partner, who has
been with Vancouver police for six years, was suspended for four days
and is now assigned a desk job while police investigate his testimony
at the same drug trial.

The recent allegations bring to eight the number of Vancouver officers
investigated this year over allegations of corruption and misconduct,
but the department has rejected calls by its critics to hold a public
inquiry.

Spokeswoman Constable Anne Drennan said the force is thorough when it
investigates its own, and that the Crown decides whether charges are
laid.

"I can't understand why anyone would think that we would want to cover
up. We want this kind of thing to be dealt with. If there are problem
people in our force, we want those people weeded out," she said. "If
these allegations are false, we also want that made public."

Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell, head of the Vancouver police board,
agrees with B.C. Solicitor-General Rich Coleman that no public inquiry
is needed.

"I believe that the majority of citizens in this city trust the police
department and believe they are doing a good job," said Campbell.

"If I thought for a minute that there was tacit approval of brutality
or perjury or any other thing along those lines, I would be discussing
that with the chief immediately. I simply don't have that evidence."

But Campbell's COPE colleague, Councillor Tim Stevenson, said a public
inquiry must now be considered.

"We need to have a discussion within our own caucus about whether it's
time," he said.

Six Vancouver police officers are awaiting trial on charges of assault
with a weapon and assault for their alleged roles in beating up three
suspected drug dealers in Stanley Park.

Vancouver police have also been criticized recently for using
excessive force at a riot after a cancelled Guns 'N' Roses concert,
and of covering up officer misconduct in the deaths of Frank Paul and
Jeff Berg, who died after having contact with officers.

Lawyer Terry La Liberte, executive board member of the B.C. Trial
Lawyers Association, said there could be concern about the testimony
of all Vancouver officers until the name of the 29-year-old officer is
released.

"I think it does everybody a disservice. If this person is under
suspicion, that should be something that should be disclosed to us,"
La Liberte said.

Once the name is released, lawyers may consider launching appeals in
cases in which the officer has testified, he added.

The drug trial ended in dismissal, but Drennan said the officer's
testimony didn't play a role in the outcome. She said the suspect was
deported to Honduras by Immigration Canada.

The officer has testified in other trials, but Drennan said it is too
soon to comment on whether his testimony will be examined in the other
hearings.

Tom Stamatakis, president of the Vancouver police union, argued there
is no proof of a systemic problem in the 1,200-officer department. He
argued that 130 complaints filed against Vancouver members this year
is relatively small when they respond to an average of 350,000 calls
for service and write 100,00 tickets annually.

"What would be the point of having an inquiry when I don't think we've
even come close to establishing that there are any systemic problems?"
Stamatakis asked. "Do police officers make mistakes? Absolutely, they
do."

But he said the police department responds to those mistakes, citing
its investigation into allegations of excessive force against drug
dealers in Stanley Park.

Most of the nine members of the department's internal investigations
unit will be involved in the latest case, and their report --- which
is expected to take several weeks -- will go to the police complaints
commission.

Ryneveld can take one of several avenues: confirm the conclusions and
discipline recommended by the Vancouver police; demand more
information by ordering an external investigation by another police
department; or hold a public inquiry, said Dana Urban, deputy police
complaint commissioner.

"Usually you see a public hearing when there is a disagreement as to
the quality of the investigation, or the decision-making by the police
chief," Urban said.