FOUR COPS FACE DISCIPLINE HEARINGS

The chief of police and president of the York Regional Police association
can agree on one thing; the grand total of four York cops facing
disciplinary hearings is not very many.

"I get upset when I see any police officer has not followed our procedure,"
Chief Armand La Barge said.

"It bothers me and upsets me. But with almost 1,200 officers on staff,
having four before disciplinary tribunals is not an outrageous number.

"And it must be remembered that these are charges, no officer has been
found guilty. They've simply been charged and are innocent until proven
guilty."

Two York drug cops were found guilty of police act charges in February
after making up notes on a case months after the investigation had concluded.

As a result, charges were dropped against four people in a major ecstasy raid.

The force has since adjusted its policy on notes to make sure a similar
situation does not arise.

Of the four other ongoing disciplinary charges against York officers, two
were ordered by the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services, the
civilian body dealing with public complaints against police officers, and
two were directed by the force itself.

The civilian commission-directed hearings include one for an officer
suspected of making errors in the investigation of a suspicious death and
another for a cop suspected of using excessive force in breaking up a party.

The two hearings directed by the force itself include one for an officer
suspected of failing to abide by orders from a superior officer and another
for an officer suspected of making questionable benefit claims.

"In the big picture, with a large staff of 1,200 officers out there doing
an excellent job, four is not very many," police association president John
Miskiw said.

Disciplinary hearings are open to anyone, but the force does not alert the
public about them.