COPS ALLEGE COVERUP

Ex-Drug Officers Claims Probe Is Rigged

Eight former Toronto Police drug squad cops who are suing Chief Julian
Fantino and 21 others for "malicious prosecution" for alleged
corruption now claim Fantino and others are perverting an RCMP-led
probe to cover up their mistakes. Fantino and other Toronto and RCMP
brass have "disregarded the facts" on the preconceived and unfounded
notion the cops were "hardened criminals," the eight claim in an
Amended Statement of Claim filed in court recently.

Despite the absence of evidence, the brass "persisted in committing
resources" to a 20-officer task force in the "vain hope of finding
incriminating evidence," the eight now allege.

Unable to properly conclude the probe because of "false pride,
egocentric self-perception, or personal commitments to each other,
Fantino and others have engaged in a "frivolous and vexatious"
investigation that has taken on the aura of a witch-hunt, they allege.

Staff-Sgt. John Schertzer and detectives Jaroslaw Cieslik, Steven
Correia, Sean McGuinness, Joseph Miched, Raymond Pollard, Jonathan
Reid and Greg Forestall named Fantino and 21 cops, prosecutors and
politicians as defendants in the suit, filed in Ontario Superior Court
of Justice Jan. 7.

The suit seeks $116 million in damages. Named defendants include
Deputy Chief Mike Boyd, former internal affairs head Robert Strathdee,
and RCMP Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli and Chief Supt. John Neily.

Each former drug officer seeks $14.5 million in damages for
allegations of malicious prosecution, negligent investigation,
defamation of character, as well as libel and slander.

None of the allegations has been tested in court. No statements of
defence have been filed by any of the 22 defendants.

Fantino couldn't be reached for comment, but when informed of the
lawsuit in January, he stated: "If that's what they're saying, it's
false. I have great faith in the system and the truth, in the end,
will come out."

UNDER SCRUTINY

The eight plaintiff officers were part of Team 3 of the now-defunct
central field command drug squad, which came under scrutiny by police
internal affairs in April 1999 after defence lawyer Edward Sapiano
alleged thefts of drugs and cash.

It is alleged that after an initial probe found no wrongdoing,
Zaccardelli wrongly put Neily at the head of an expanded criminal probe.

In November 2000, internal affairs officers charged seven of the eight
officers with theft, fraud and forgery relating to alleged impropriety
with the police informant fund. An eighth officer was charged with
perjury.

All charges were stayed a year later.

The amended claim states that the probe:

- - Employed outlawed investigative techniques the brass knew were
"likely to cause miscarriages of justice";

- - Offered immunity from prosecution to officers in return for
favourable evidence;

- - Compensated criminals who made "false allegations with money and
lenient treatment before the courts."

Neither Boyd, Neily, Zaccardelli or Strathdee could not be reached for
comment.