POLICE ANONYMOUS

It takes courage to admit to a drug or alcohol problem. It takes even more
guts to stand before a group of strangers and speak about your struggles.

Yet this mix of soul-bearing testimonials, anonymity and trust is at the
heart of the recovery programs that have helped thousands of people kick
their destructive addictions and resume productive lives.

The disturbing news that a Toronto undercover police officer infiltrated
one such counselling group in Peterborough puts all this good work at risk.

Toronto police officials take pains to say that the objective in the
Peterborough case was to keep tabs on a murder suspect, who happened to
belong to Narcotics Anonymous. They insist they had no interest in her
statements to the group.

But that distinction is lost on those who attend these self-help sessions
and can see the police action for what it was -- a horrendous breach of trust.

"Revelations of this kind of police behaviour will scare people out of
Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and related organizations, and
will more than likely result in some of them losing their battles with
addiction," said Peter Armstrong, president of Renascent, an alcoholic and
drug recovery organization.

Certainly, the mere suspicion that cops may be posing as a drug addicts or
alcoholics to get into these groups is bound to have a chilling effect on
those who rely on this kind of therapy for help, especially for the members
of Narcotics Anonymous. By using drugs, they've already run afoul of the law.

Indeed, the damage may have already been done. In Peterborough, three
recovering addicts quit the group after learning an undercover officer had
been a member.

Cops claim the decision to send officers into such situations is not taken
lightly. Nor, they say, is it done often.

But with no policy on the books, such assurances ring hollow. Fact is,
there's nothing to stop an officer from slipping into the monthly meeting
of a local Narcotics Anonymous group in an effort to uncover the
neighbourhood drug users.

Such a serious issue calls for the voice of the chief. Chief Julian Fantino
should immediately reassure the community that his officers will no longer
resort to sneaking into therapy and counselling sessions as part of their
crime probes.

The courts must be prepared to back that message by tossing out any
evidence gathered by such egregious investigative methods.

Officers have plenty of tools at their disposal to investigate crimes. They
don't have to engage in practices that abuse the community's trust.