TOP COP DENIES RESTRAINING WHISTLE-BLOWER

Cassells Accused Of Breaking Rules In Talking To Media

Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair denied allegations yesterday he was
trying to muzzle whistle-blower Sgt. Jim Cassells over his charges
police brass tried to sweep evidence of corruption by drug squad cops
under the rug.

Cassells, a key member of the RCMP-led task force which investigated
allegations of drug squad corruption, was on the witness stand at his
own disciplinary hearing yesterday. He faces allegations that he
broke police rules by talking with the media.

In cross-examination, Cassells admitted the task force didn't get the
A-team investigators for the probe into drug squad misconduct.

BIAS ALLEGED

Cassells has publicly alleged that top internal affairs cops either
minimized, overlooked or ignored incidents of wrongdoing that were
uncovered during the probe.

He asserts that Blair is biased in his case and should not be allowed
to pick one of his own top cops to judge whether Cassells broke
police rules by talking to the media.

He asked for an independent hearing officer to be appointed in the
wake of a May Toronto Sun story in which he accused Blair of slamming
him for going public and in which Blair denied any misconduct had
been swept under the table.

"Blair then suggested the same bureau (of professional standards) for
which I made assertions of improper investigation investigate my
claim," Cassells stated in an affidavit presented at the hearing yesterday.

Blair, who was attending an in-camera session of the Toronto Police
Services Board meeting at City Hall, defended the drug squad
investigation as "exhaustive and thorough" and said it was vetted
through the Crown attorney.

"We are trying to do our business as openly and transparently as
possible," Blair told reporters. "I rely on the good faith efforts of
investigators and prosecutors.

"We hold our people accountable and we operate according to the rule
of law. Occasionally, some of our members may engage in misconduct," he said.

MAJORITY 'HONEST'

"But the vast majority of our members are honest, devout, law-abiding
public servants."

Blair refused to answer questions on either the hearing or the
ongoing criminal trial of the six drug squad officers.

The Police Act hearing was adjourned until Dec. 14.