REVENGE OF THE TOP COPS

Mark Bonokoski Reveals Police Barred a Top Psychiatrist after He Wrote a
Scathing Report

SHORTLY AFTER his psychiatric assessment of junkie undercover drug cop
Robert Kelly was tabled before the police tribunal that will decide his
fate at month's end, Dr. Peter Collins was banned from Toronto Police
headquarters by a confidential "watch notice" bearing his mug shot. "Dr.
Peter Collins' access to police facilities has been revoked," read the
handwritten directive. "He is not to be allowed into the non-public areas
of the building, only with police escort. Any attempts to enter are to be
reported to Staff Inspector Bruce."

The memo was dated Oct. 2, 2003, at 1025 hrs., and signed by L. A. Bruce,
Staff Inspector, Duty Operations Centre.

Dr. Peter Collins, a world-renowned forensic psychiatrist with vast
international credentials, has a short-version CV that runs 40 pages. He
has been closely connected to Toronto Police since 1989, primarily as a
widely sought consultant to the Emergency Task Force, the sex-crime unit
and the homicide squad.

Reached at OPP headquarters in Orillia, where he also heads the forensic
psychiatry unit with the behavioural sciences section, Dr. Collins
acknowledged his unprecedented banishment, conceded it was "sparked" by the
Robert Kelly case, but then refused further comment.

Collins did indicate, however, that he accepted a verbal apology in April
- -- albeit a full seven months after he was ordered to turn in his pass --
from Staff-Supt. Bill Blair and Police Chief Julian Fantino's legal
counsel, who met with him on his turf at the Centre for Addiction and
Mental Health, where he is an associate professor of forensic psychiatry.

The cop who wrote and posted the notice, Leslie Alexander Bruce, is now
retired from the force, but said from his home that he was ordered by
Staff-Supt. Emery Gilbert, then head of operations support under Chief
Fantino's command, to post the directive "immediately" -- all which
explains why it was handwritten and not typed.

'BEST NOT TO ASK'

"No, I didn't ask why it was being done," said Bruce. "I found it was best
not to ask those types of questions."

According to Kelly's lawyer, Peter Brauti, the catalyst to the banishment
action was triggered by Dr. Collins' written submission to the tribunal
deciding Det.-Const. Kelly's future, and particularly his criticism of
police brass for leaving him undercover for so long -- despite his requests
to be removed -- and then having no deep-cover counselling program to deal
with those who might derail.

"Dr. Collins tabled his report and, right after that, he got jammed," said
Brauti. "(Collins) was just calling it like it is, and what happened to him
is outrageous."

Collins' written evaluation of Kelly cited the following:

- - "Robert Kelly experienced traumatic events secondary to his work as a
drug officer -- the shooting of his partner (Const. Russ Lillie was wounded
by a gunshot to the chest in March, 1998, when an undercover drug buy went
bad), and having a shotgun pointed at him. In response to cumulative
stresses and depression, he developed maladaptive behaviour, including
'self-treating' himself with cocaine."

- - "It is important to note that the behaviour exhibited by Kelly is well
recognized as being secondary to undercover work. Although he asked to be
removed from this type of police work, he was not allowed to do so. If he
had been removed from the drug squad, as he requested, he very likely may
not have displayed the behaviour that has led him to be presently before
the court. There does not appear to be an in-depth undercover stress
program in the Toronto Police Service. Many major police agencies have
recognized that there are potentially harmful effects to undercover work
and have developed such programs."

It was Dr. Collins' opinion, as well, that Kelly has been "effectively
treated for his (substance abuse) illness and the accompanying stress
disorder."

"There is no psychiatric reason why he cannot return to police work,"
Collins wrote. "It goes without saying (however) that this individual
should not return to the drug squad."

Mark Pugash, director of corporate communications for the Toronto Police
Service, admitted it was "not a secret" that police brass had "real issues
regarding the Kelly case" when it came to Dr. Collins' assessments.

But he also insisted that Collins' criticisms were not the reason for the
notice being posted or his pass revoked.

"It was (suddenly) realized that (Collins) had unfettered access (to police
facilities)," said Pugash. "No one else outside the service had such access.

"It was decided that his status had to be 'regularized.' But there was no
intention that he be made persona non grata.

"There was a misunderstanding, and that's why the apology was extended."