13 COPS WARNED FOR DRINKING

Thirteen Winnipeg cops have been warned - but will not face disciplinary
action - for drinking while on duty.

The move by police brass comes early two years after a fatal shooting
during a drug bust brought the issue to light - and just as the Christmas
party season gets under way.

On Dec. 16, 1997, the officers allegedly drank alcohol at a holiday party
hosted by colleagues with Canada Immigration.

"The guys, they're human," Insp. Bob Hall, executive assistant to the chief
of police, said yesterday.

"We believe a mistake was made, but it wasn't malicious."

He said the officers will not face suspension or a dock in pay and instead
have recently been re-educated about the rules of drinking on duty.

Officers can drink whatever they want off-duty, but if they're on duty at a
party, they should sip on soda pop, said Hall.

"They just have to be strong."

A short time after the party, eight officers from the vice unit - some who
were at the party - raided the home of 60-year-old drug dealer Abe Hiebert.

Hiebert scuffled with the officers at the door. When Hiebert appeared
poised to crack one officer over the head with a baseball bat, another cop
shot him in the shoulder. He later died at hospital.

The officer who shot Hiebert consented to a blood-alcohol test and the
results came back negative. An internal probe later showed he used
reasonable force and was justified in the shooting.

The seven other officers refused to take blood tests but had every right to
do so because they weren't driving, said Hall.

Acting Insp. Cam Malcolmson of the vice division said there have been no
similar drinking-on-duty problems with his officers.

"If we are invited to a Christmas celebration this year, the guys will be
expected to take time off to go," he said.