IT'S OUTRIGHT CRIMINAL

It appears that in Canada there are two sets of rules: one for the
average Canadian, another for police officers.

Consider the recent case of six Vancouver police officers convicted of
systematically beating three suspected drug dealers one night almost a
year ago in the shadows of Stanley Park.

Those officers, constables Duncan Gemmell, Christopher Cronmiller,
Raymond Gardner, James Kenney, Gabriel Kojima and Brandon Steele
pleaded guilty to three counts of common assault after bargaining with
Crown Counsel, which dropped more serious charges.

Prior to sentencing, Judge Herb Weitzel stated that a mob mentality
was the driving force behind the beatings and then proceeded to pass
sentences ranging from house arrest and six months probation, a
nine-month suspended sentence and community service, a conditional
discharge with six months probation, a suspended sentence and six
month probation and and absolute discharge.

Were it not for the ethics of a police recruit who witnessed the
beating and then reported it to officials, one can only speculate if
these six policemen would have ever been brought to justice, such as
it might be.

If you think the sentences are a joke, consider the fact that it's
possible all six will continue to serve and protect, despite their
shameful and illegal actions.

According to RCMP media spokesperson, Const. Anne Drennan, criminal
records don't necessarily mean any of the six will be barred from
continuing on the job. All six officers will face a police
disciplinary hearing later this month. But who's to say what
reprimands, if any, they will receive?

Their union president, Tom Stamatakis, argues that people make
mistakes all the time and get second chances, and thus so should the
six.

While that might be true, there are always exceptions to the rule,
especially when one is in a perceived position of authority.

If what Stamatakis says is true, then convicted sex offenders should
be able to keep their jobs in schools or other such places.

And convicted judges should be able to continue to pass sentence upon
convicted felons.

Let's not sugar-coat this travesty of justice. All six of the officers
are criminals and wearing the blue or gray or brown does not equate to
being bullet-proof.

If one can't trust those who are charged to serve and protect us, then
who can one trust? What sort of message does this send to other
officers who are of questionable character?

It's a sickening shame that these cowards - and yes, one is a coward
when one participates in a beating in which the perpetrators outnumber
the victims two to one - might still be allowed to wear the uniform of
Canada's best.

In fact, we argue it's outright criminal.