COKE COP CAN'T RETURN

There Can Come A Time In Any Career When The Only Appropriate Course
Of Action Is To Bring Down The Curtain.

Such is the case, we'd argue, with Ottawa cop Kevin Hall, who has
been in front of a tribunal this week arguing that he ought to get
back his job, despite his penchant for activities that are most
definitely outside the law.

Hall, for instance, has admitted to seizing cocaine during an arrest
and keeping it for himself, swiping cocaine from a drug exhibit and
even stealing dope from a police depository.

In each case, the coke was for his personal use, to help him deal
with the stresses of his life.

Now he says that's all behind him, and after nearly a year of
suspension with pay, he wants his old job back.

Sorry, but that's not how the world works.

The 43-year-old Hall broke the law not once but at least eight times.
The very laws that he, as a police officer, was sworn to uphold.

He didn't simply slip on to the wrong side of the law. He virtually
lived there for 13 months.

Repeated drug possession and use -- to say nothing of the thefts --
has landed many others behind bars. And yet Hall thinks he should be
put back into a position to enforce the laws he so flagrantly disregarded.

Police Supt. Ralph Erfle has tossed cold water on the idea of Hall
winning back his job, telling the hearing that the constable is "one
of the last officers" the Ottawa force would want as its public face.

David McKercher, a Crown lawyer who has worked on numerous drug
cases, added that Hall's credibility would likely be called into
question should he ever have to give evidence in court.

No kidding. And the last thing we need in our leaky legal system is
another argument that can be used by clever defence lawyers to tip
the scales against the side of law and order.

Hall made some bad choices in his life. We're glad to hear that he
has sought counselling for his addictions. But now it's time to face
the consequences of his actions.

And another thing ...

Can't say we're wild about this idea. Prime Minister Stephen Harper
is musing about transferring one percentage point of the GST to the
provinces to settle the so-called fiscal imbalance.

We'd save another penny of GST on every dollar we spend next year,
only to see it swallowed up by an offsetting hike in the provincial
levy? No thanks.