AUDIT CRITICIZES DURHAM POLICE FORCE

But officers say it only touches surface

Durham regional police are missing seven police revolvers, have lax
monitoring of seized drugs and drug money and are improperly storing seized
liquor, guns, cash and jewelry, according to a provincial audit.

The 16-week audit, which began last March, came after some members of the
police force told the solictor-general's ministry that they had problems
with management practices, harassment, hiring, transfers, favouritism,
financial management and how the force's property bureau is run.

Oshawa Councillor Bob Boychyn, chairperson of the Durham Police Services
Board, refused to discuss the report of the four-person inspection team
until after this morning's board meeting.

But rank and file Durham officers believe the audit only touched the
surface of the problems and are considering calling for a board of inquiry
to probe further.

The report, a copy of which was obtained by The Star, found poor business
practices, lack of direction from those in command and outdated equipment.

The audit team, headed by Mike Mitchell, director of the police support
programs branch of the solicitor-general's ministry, made 91
recommendations to improve the 25-year-old Durham force after speaking with
150 serving officers and 84 retired officers.

They include:

* The force must find the seven .38-calibre revolvers. They were among more
than 1,000 guns that were replaced with Glock semi-automatic pistols, said
deputy Chief Derek Denson, who believes they were destroyed with the others.

* The deposit and documentation of seized drugs and drug money must be
properly monitored by a witness officer. Regular audits of seized drugs
must be conducted.

* There is a need for standard operating procedures for the disposal or
sale of seized property.

* Standard procedures should be developed for court security and the
transportation of prisoners.

* The Tactical Support Unit's specialized equipment and weapons were well
maintained but outdated and need replacing.

The report noted that many of the complaints from the officers already were
being addressed by Police Chief Kevin McAlpine.

He replaced Trevor McCagherty in late 1997.

And a new police services board took over in January of last year, the
report said.

Rod Blakey, chairperson of the Durham Region Police Association's
solicitor-general's committee, said it would be nice if the
``recommendations, the change in chief and board would allow this police
service to move forward.''

But there were complaints that members raised to the inspection team - such
as tyrannical behaviour by command officers, employment and promotional
practices - that were not addressed at all, he said in an interview.

`'And I was disappointed with the lack of a forensic audit,'' which was
specifically asked for by union members who spoke openly about suspected
mismanagement of police funds, he said.

Blakey said it was possible auditors were worried there would a political
backlash - such as the one after a similar audit of York Region police.

``In that case, the Association of Ontario Chiefs of Police accused the
solicitor-general of declaring open season on chiefs of police,'' Blakey said.

``My answer to that is that if they have done nothing wrong, they have
nothing to fear,'' he said.

``I was also advised by Mitchell that serious complaints that were not
covered by their mandate would be redirected to the appropriate agencies.''

Other concerns not addressed included the confusion between the domain of
the solicitor-general's ministry as the province's top policing body and
the human rights commission.

``When members sought remedies from either group, they were told the other
body was responsible and had jurisdiction,'' Blakey said.

``The end result was that the victims of workplace harassment and
tyrannical behaviour had no recourse outside the police service.''

And the ``inherent flaw'' in the system where the chief of police and
senior officers become exempt from the rules of the Police Act was also not
addressed, he said.

Blakey said his committee will be meeting within the next few weeks to
discuss what actions they will take.

``There could be a decision to call for an . . . inquiry.''