COPS AND COKE

Lawyer Outraged After Being Told Drug Police Got 'Package' Instead Of Jail Time

A veteran Toronto police officer who once headed a drug squad is one of
several cops who last spring took a secret "package" to stave off criminal
prosecution, The Toronto Sun has learned.

The popular officer, who during a stellar career has dodged bullets and
worked on huge cases, went into rehab after confessing to a decade-long
cocaine habit, sources say.

The officer's case is being treated as a "disease" similar to alcoholism,
sources say, and he has spent several months in drug therapy while on sick
leave.

Toronto lawyer Edward Sapiano who has often represented accused drug
dealers said he was "stunned" when told of the secret deal by The Sun.

"There is obviously one law for the police and one law for the rest of us,"
Sapiano said.

The revelation that an unspecified number of Toronto drug cops went into
rehab amid findings of "serious criminal wrongdoing" is contained in a
$116-million civil lawsuit filed against Toronto Police Chief Julian
Fantino and 22 other police officials, prosecutors and politicians by eight
former drug squad cops.

The eight officers were part of the now-defunct central field command drug
squad that is at the centre of an RCMP-led task force into alleged corruption.

The eight, who had charges against them -- theft, fraud and forgery --
stayed last February, allege their lives are in tatters because of the
allegations.

They allege an outraged Fantino "interfered" after two separate internal
affairs probes came up empty-handed, first demanding that charges be laid
and then later calling in the RCMP.

The lawsuit contains allegations that have not yet been tested in court.

The probe led to criminal charges against one northwest field command cop,
the suit claims, who on more than one occasion had asked to be withdrawn
from the drug squad because of "substance abuse" problems but was left in
the unit.

While the officer is not named, court documents state that the RCMP-led
task force arrested northwest field command Det. Const. Robert Kelly Nov.
16, 2001 and charged him with trafficking cocaine, possession of cocaine
for the purposes of trafficking and breach of trust.

According to the statement of claim, the "package" was devised by Fantino
and RCMP Chief Supt. John Neily, who was picked to lead the 25-member task
force by longtime Fantino friend, RCMP commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli.

RCMP-Led Probe

While Neily considered laying "serious"criminal charges against other
officers, the lawsuit claims, he and Fantino "concurred that the other
officers could escape criminal charges" if they took the "package."

Sapiano, whose allegations of drug cops stealing cash and drugs from
dealers prompted the RCMP-led probe, said the secret deals suggest "a whole
separate parallel justice system has been established for police officers".

Sapiano said it is "mindboggling" to think such a high-profile officer
could have a decade-long habit while working daily with officers who are
"trained to detect" drug use.

Sapiano said the man likely secured "more than a century" in prison terms
for drug users when "he was doing the same thing they were doing."

When asked about the seriousness of drug addiction among police officers,
Ontario's deputy coroner Dr. Jim Cairns said after off-duty officers were
found dead or unconscious in the early 1990s, his office sent a warning to
Toronto and other forces about the dangers of leaving undercover officers
in drug squads too long.

Cairns said the issue of mandatory substance abuse tests for drug squad
officers was raised, but it didn't lead to anything.

Toronto Police spokesman Rob Knapper refused comment on the drug-addicted
officers, saying "we do not disclose anything relating to personnel issues."

Fantino refused to confirm anything, saying it would be "inappropriate" for
him to discuss "personnel issues."

Fantino said "speaking in general terms," he has always been "vigilant
about the vulnerability of our people."

Fantino said many functions in policing carry risk, especially drug work.
He noted that many major American cities have drug screening in place, but
he does not see it as possible in Toronto.

"I would only want to see this done if it is done to protect our people,
their families ... I wouldn't want it perceived as anything to be used or
abused," the chief said.

The officer has not been named in any civil court allegations of corruption
or brutality, nor was he part of any drug squad when the RCMP probed the
northwest field command.