OFFICER DENIES DRINKING IN OFFICE

Wanted to clean up before brass arrived, inquest told

WINNIPEG POLICE vice division officers were copying child pornography,
smoking cigars and writing slurs against senior officers -- but not
drinking -- at their office the evening Abe Hiebert was fatally shot by
police, an inquest heard yesterday.

Const. David Black, a 21-year-member of the Winnipeg Police Service,
admitted to having two rum-and-cokes earlier at a party attended by almost
the entire on-duty vice squad.

Black said he was "instructed" to go to the party by his sergeant. He denied
anyone continued drinking at the vice office after the party.

In telephone transcripts with the police communications centre after the
shooting on Dec. 16, 1997, Black is quoted as repeatedly saying "Get rid of
this shit." Yesterday, Black said he was referring to a number of things
amiss in the office, but not to alcohol.

Hiebert, 60, sold Talwin and Ritalin to hookers. Eight drug squad officers
were attempting to execute a search warrant on his small north end house
when Det. Sgt. Len Small shot and killed Hiebert, who had been trying to
fight off officers with pepper spray and a baseball bat.

Black said that on Dec. 16, 1997, he wanted to clean up the office because
he expected top brass and homicide investigators to visit.

"I didn't want them to see it was a pig sty and to be caught smoking," he
said.

Only one week before, the head of vice, Insp. Gary Walker, had threatened
that anyone caught smoking would be transferred out of vice. That wasn't
enough to deter other vice officers from smoking on Dec. 16, Black
testified.

"That night I know I was smoking a cigar. Other people were smoking
cigarettes and cigars," he said.

Another officer was printing off copies of child porn from seized computer
discs. Black said he was worried the laser copies might become lost if
homicide investigators and senior officers visited, and he wanted them
stored away.

Other laser copies included pictures of a naked, handcuffed 14-year-old
sexual assault victim that Black himself printed. The copies were to be
mailed to police in B.C., where the girl is believed to be from, he said.

Another concern was the blackboard, which contained a list of "tasteless
jokes about shift members and senior officers," he said.

Black said he was reprimanded for drinking at the party and for other,
unspecified infractions. He received a written notice and was transferred
out of vice.

Inquest testimony also heard that Black, who was assigned to the morality
section of vice, also drove several officers from the shooting scene to the
Public Safety Building. He cautioned them of their right to counsel and told
them not to discuss the matter in the van.

"They were all silent, very sullen," Black said.