ADDICT COP RECEIVES HOUSE ARREST

A crack-addicted Toronto cop convicted of 13 criminal charges, including
passing confidential information to drug dealers, was put under virtual
house arrest for 18 months yesterday.

"I didn't expect it," said Const. Richard Staley, 50, who retired from the
force a day earlier after 27 years and 30 commendations as a police officer.

"I thought I was going to jail today."

Instead, the veteran cop walked out of court to go home -- with his pension.

Staley pleaded guilty to the charges, which included breach of trust,
attempting to obstruct justice, and 10 firearms offences linked to three
restricted guns registered to him but "lost" and never reported missing.

Internal affairs Det.-Sgt. Mike Earl said outside court that "there's three
guns on the street ... they're out there somewhere."

Earl said he's "disappointed but not shocked" by the conditional sentence.
"I thought he was going to get incarcerated."

Justice Harry LaForme said he believes Staley is remorseful and noted there
are safety concerns when a cop is jailed.

The judge said he agonized over his decision, calling it a "sad situation"
of a career cop who once was a "good officer."

Staley had three crack pipes in his uniform pocket upon his arrest in April
2000.

"I've embarrassed the police force and embarrassed myself," he said. "I was
naive and stupid."