COP RAPPED FOR HANDLING OF DRUGS

An Edmonton constable is facing a 20-hour suspension without pay for
taking almost a year to turn over seized crack cocaine and cash, an
internal disciplinary hearing has determined.

On May 23, 2006, city police Const. Cory Huculak led a vehicle stop
as part of a team that arrested two people and seized $155 cash and
nine grams of crack cocaine.

In September of that same year, a city police drug custodian received
notice that charges against one of the people arrested had been
withdrawn. At that point, the custodian realized there was no record
or drug exhibits on the file and questioned Huculak about it.

Huculak continuously said the drugs would be submitted the next day,
yesterday's written decision says.

INVESTIGATION

By March 8, 2007, the drugs still hadn't been turned over, and at the
end of that month, the professional standards branch notified Huculak
that there would be a criminal investigation.

He submitted the drug exhibit and the cash April 1 of that year.

In his decision, Supt. Mark Logar noted that Huculak had a clean
record and had received constant praise throughout his 12 years with
Edmonton Police Service.

The decision also notes that the drugs initially had been misplaced
and "for fear of exposing other officers to the disciplinary
consequence," Huculak did not report the incident.

'SUFFICIENT'

"The punishment should still be sufficient to assure the public that
misconducts of the nature discussed here cannot and will not be
treated lightly," Logar wrote.

"Arresting criminals is the first half of the police work.
Competently preparing and presenting cases in court is the other."

Huculak's suspension is the equivalent to a $760 fine and it will
remain on his record for five years.