SIX POLICE OFFICERS BEAT MEN

Vancouver constables suspended with pay

VANCOUVER (CP) -- Six city police officers who admitted taking three men to
Stanley Park and beating them will remain suspended with full pay pending a
disciplinary hearing in January. "Remember that just because an officer is
convicted of assault doesn't mean he has to lose his job," Const. Anne
Drennan said at a news conference yesterday.

"We have officers on the job now who have been convicted of assault," said
Drennan, who was unable to say how many other officers have criminal
records for assault.

The six constables have been under suspension with pay since the incident
in January.

Drennan faced a barrage of questions from reporters who repeatedly asked
why the officers should keep getting paid while they are under suspension
now that they have pleaded guilty to a criminal offence.

She said the officers will face an internal, closed-door hearing Jan. 16-17
under provisions of the Police Act where the onus will be on them to
convince police Chief Jamie Graham that they should not lose their jobs.
The police chief consulted with labour lawyers and decided the officers
should remain on the payroll under suspension because they had not yet
faced the disciplinary hearing, she said.

After the incident occurred, the police chief sent a letter to each of the
six, informing them that a hearing would be held and that he would seek
their dismissal, said Drennan.

Although the officers pleaded guilty in provincial court to assault,
charges of obstruction of justice and assault with a weapon were dropped.

The officers picked up the three suspected drug dealers in downtown
Vancouver early on the morning of Jan. 14.

The men were driven to a private spot in Stanley Park and beaten.