'DON'T CALL THE COPS'

Coke-Using Officer On Job, Witness Hides

A man who told Toronto Police that one drug cop gave him cocaine and
alleged four others did the drug with him now wishes he had never complained.

It was five years ago when the man told police about the alleged cop
coke users, along with allegations that cops put bets on fixed horse
races and one cop threatened his life over a gambling debt.

He said he has been left high and dry while drug squad cop Rob Kelly
and the four others are still on the job.

"I went to the wrong people," said the man, who became an undercover
agent after he alleged that Kelly threatened him over horse race
winnings of $25,000.

"I am totally pissed off," said the man. "The moral of the story (is)
don't call the cops if you see corruption ... Turn your head on it,
let it go ... 'cause they don't do f--- all about it ... It's a waste of time."

The man alleges that after he came forward, he was arrested, forced
to go to court, thrown in jail overnight, named in the media,
shadowed by private investigators, quizzed by mobsters who mistakenly
believed he was "a rat" and spent $15,000 to go into hiding.

'Looking Over My Shoulder'

"All the time I have wasted, and I am still looking over my
shoulder," said the man, who requested anonymity.

The man believes that his case is on police "whistleblower" Sgt. Jim
Cassells' list of "numerous" incidents of alleged corruption, which
Cassells says have been minimized, ignored or swept under the rug.

The 29-year police veteran with a strong record played a key role in
the RCMP-led task force that probed corruption allegations in the
Central Field Command (CFC) drug squad.

A massive three-year probe ended in January 2004 when six former drug
cops were each charged criminally with conspiracy to engage in corruption.

Another 34 charges were laid and four other CFC cops were named as
"unindicted co-conspirators."

None of the allegations against the officers have been proven in court.

In an affidavit in a related court appeal, task force boss Staff
Supt. John Neily alleged that 17 cops had engaged in crime.

Cassells, who came forward after he was charged with misconduct for
talking to a reporter, has refused to detail his allegations, but he
asserts Toronto Police internal affairs brass know all about them yet
have done nothing.

Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair and Toronto Police Services Board
chairman Alok Mukherjee have dismissed Cassells' claims without
hearing them. Both men suggested Cassells should take his complaints
to the same unit he slammed.

Cassells' call for a public inquiry echoes earlier calls by lawyers
Peter Biro, Edward Sapiano and Clayton Ruby.

Wore Wiretaps

The Kelly informant said yesterday he was given assurances by police
that "they would protect me." But once they got him into court,
"nobody wants to f---ing know me."

The man agreed to wear wiretaps for police and engaged in two sting
operations against Kelly in November 2001.

In one meeting, the man gave Kelly $5,500 in police-sting cash as
partial payment for the disputed horse racing win. In another, Kelly
gave the man 3.15 grams of cocaine.

Kelly, 39, a well-liked veteran officer with a stellar career, was
originally charged with two counts of possession of cocaine for the
purposes of trafficking. He pleaded guilty to two counts of possession.

Hearing that Kelly had rehabilitated himself with hundreds of hours
of counselling, a trial judge gave him a suspended sentence, two
years of probation and 200 hours of voluntary service.

Last year in a Police Services Act hearing, Supt. Tony Warr told
Kelly he should quit or be fired after Kelly pleaded guilty to
discreditable conduct.

Warr rejected a joint proposal by prosecutors and Kelly's lawyer that
Kelly would keep his job, take a demotion and undergo random drug
tests. The Ontario Civilian Commission on Policing Services (OCCOPS)
overturned Warr's ruling and ordered Kelly back to work.

The Superior Court of Ontario upheld the OCCOPS ruling.

The man says he will save some cash and launch a lawsuit.