COP GROUP SAYS RIGHTS VIOLATED

Tribunal's Conduct Lambasted

A TORONTO Police Services disciplinary tribunal that ruled to fire a
cocaine-abusing drug officer is "running roughshod" over officers'
rights, says the Toronto Police Association. Association president Al
Olsen said board members were shocked with the ruling that said drug
cop Robert Kelly must quit or be fired for sharing cocaine with a
police informant.

"(We) are outraged by the turn of events in the Kelly case," Olsen
said.

'EXCEPTIONAL' OFFICER

"Kelly was, and is, an exceptional (officer). Clearly, his addiction
to cocaine was a medical condition that was largely job related."

Olsen said the tribunal decision sends a message to members that
officers who take responsibility and seek help for drug problems won't
get any and instead, "in all likelihood, they will be dismissed."

"We thought management was committed to viewing substance abuse as a
serious health issue which demanded medical treatment and
rehabilitation, not punishment," Olsen said.

Olsen vowed the association will change the way it defends cases heard
by the tribunal.

'NEW APPROACH'

"The tribunal and ... internal affairs are running roughshod over our
members' rights and are engaged in unacceptable conduct," Olsen said.
"As of today we'll be taking a new approach in our relationship with
management, vigorously defending misconduct allegations and shedding
light on the improper conduct of management and internal affairs."