OUSTED OFFICER HAD STELLAR SERVICE RECORD

DISGRACED DRUG cop Robert Kelly had a reputation and a record for bravery,
daring, initiative, intellect and hard work during 15 years with Toronto
Police. After joining Toronto Police in May 1989, Kelly, 38, worked in
uniform patrol, criminal investigation and a major crime unit before he
joined the North West Field Command drug squad.

His stellar police record included citations and kudos for tackling a man
who threatened to blow himself up with a bomb, chasing armed robbery
suspects on foot, performing a series of nerve-wracking undercover drug
buys and for breaking up a major car theft ring. Kelly's former drug squad
superiors, Det. Sgt. Carey Norman and Det. Larry Cowley, described him as
an "outstanding" and totally committed officer when they testified last
year at his criminal trial sentencing hearing in Brampton.

Kelly frequently worked 70 hours a week and often went unpaid for the extra
hours, court heard.

He also had a reputation for taking on hard cases and difficult case work
and for taking part in the most dangerous drug buys involving mid-level
drug dealers.

Kelly's criminal and more recent police act trial heard that he suffered "a
number of traumatic events" in the late 1990s, including his dad's death
from Lou Gehrig's disease, the break-up of a nine-year common law
relationship, the wounding of a fellow drug cop, and having a shotgun
pointed at him during a foot chase.

Kelly's defence was that he adopted his undercover persona and used drugs
to medicate himself from the pain.

In his decision yesterday, Supt. Tony Warr said while these events "no
doubt caused some personal stress ... I do not believe others who have
faced similar events have turned to drugs for relief."