SULLIVAN HOPES STATEMENT CLEARS UP RCMP 'REVIEW'

Mayor Sam Sullivan kept himself busy on his flight to Ottawa Monday
writing out a statement for the RCMP explaining why he gave money to
two drug addicts to buy drugs several years ago.

Ironically, Sullivan was on his way to visit Prime Minister Stephen
Harper, who told reporters during the winter election campaign he
would not fund public drug use.

The RCMP are waiting for Sullivan's statement to conclude what
investigators are calling "a review" surrounding the facts of
Sullivan's admission of giving money to two drug addicts to buy drugs.

The incidents occurred more than six years ago when Sullivan was a
councillor. In one incident, which he told the Courier about last
year, he gave money to a drug addict and allowed him to smoke crack
cocaine in his van.

In another incident, which occurred when Sullivan was living in
Collingwood, he gave money to a prostitute so she wouldn't sell her
body to feed her heroin habit.

Sullivan said he wanted to help the man and woman manage their
illnesses. He said he also wanted to learn more about drug addiction
and believes addicts should be prescribed drugs when other
alternatives are exhausted.

"I have written several versions [of the statement]," Sullivan said
over the phone from Ottawa as he checked into his hotel. "In fact, I
was writing another version in the plane. The first version was just
about the one incident, the second version was about the two
incidents and the third version actually gave some background. I
prefer to give the whole description."

Sullivan said he will submit his statement to the RCMP "very soon,"
and noted he wanted to "get this behind me." He said police hadn't
contacted him until January.

"[The investigator] explained that it wasn't a high priority, but it
was something that needs to be done. If you want something done with
me, you've got to put it on high priority because there's a whole lot
of things that are high priority for me. So I've now personally put
this on high priority and I've just got to get it done."

Police Chief Jamie Graham asked the RCMP to review Sullivan's actions
after he consulted with the Office of the Conflict of Interest
Commissioner. He pursued the matter after Sullivan's admissions
surfaced in the media during the 2005 civic election campaign.

As mayor, Sullivan is the de facto chair of the Vancouver Police Board.

RCMP Cpl. Tom Seaman, a media relations officer with the RCMP's
headquarters in Vancouver, said the force is conducting a review to
"make sure that everything is above board" and that no conflict exists.

"The main focus of this investigation is the optics of it and his
position as the mayor on the police board. So that's the focus of the
investigation as opposed to laying criminal charges."

Even though media reported on Sullivan's admissions, Seaman said
police need a statement from the mayor. He wouldn't say if the two
addicts have or will submit statements.

Seaman said he understood Sullivan's reasons-as relayed to the
media-for giving money to addicts were based on research. He wouldn't
comment on Sullivan's beliefs but acknowledged the ongoing drug
problem in the city.

"You can feel his frustration as the mayor of one of the most
beautiful cities in the world, yet we have this boil of drug
addiction in our city core, and it frustrates all of us. And we as a
society have to get to the bottom of it, and I honestly believe
that's what he's trying to do."

Once the RCMP receives Sullivan's statement, a decision on the case
likely won't take too long, Seaman added.

"The time lapse between the alleged offence and now is quite lengthy
so that's going to play a very large role in any decision that is
going to be made."