Opening comments: More at the end.
The list of shame, the Peel police officers involved in this dastardly deed.
Back up to;
Mississauga News - May 21, 2007 - By Louie Rosella
Party police plead guilty A gang of off-duty Peel Regional Police officers who were boozing it up behind a Mississauga store last summer have pleaded guilty to their roles in chasing down the two men who videotaped their party.
The 12 officers, including two sergeants, pleaded guilty yesterday at a Peel police tribunal to discreditable conduct charges laid under the Police Services Act.
"This goes against the core values of our organization. This is unacceptable behaviour and certainly we will hold all our officers, at all times, accountable and expect only the highest professional conduct," said Peel Sgt. Taufic Saliba.
Peel police lawyer Linda Bordeleau and the agent for the officers, Bob Baltin, jointly recommended most of the officers forfeit their pay for between four and seven days.
However, they asked tribunal hearing officer Acting Staff Supt. Blair Foley to demote two of the officers due to the severity of their offences.
During the hearing, in an agreed statement of facts, officers detailed the events that took place overnight Aug. 27-28. The activities began when Consts. Michael Bishop and Mark McLaughlin caught three men drinking beer near Vic Johnston Arena in Streetsville, Bordeleau told the hearing.
After charging the men, the officers seized two cases of beer.
McLaughlin then told Bishop, as the latter was writing notes related to the seizure, "This is how we do it in Peel. You write. I seize the beer. (Write) that I disposed of it and...we're all good."
The two officers admitted they then brought the confiscated beer to the after-hours party.
While the other officers pleaded guilty to one count, McLaughlin and Bishop each pleaded guilty to two counts of discreditable conduct.
The recommended demotion would result in a loss of $7,000 in annual salary.
Both officers "participated in the misappropriation of property seized from the public and used the property for the benefit of (their) platoon," Bordeleau said.
Other officers who pleaded guilty, and the recommended punishment, are
Cst. Matt Bertram (six days without pay);
Cst. Micheal Clutterbuck (six days);
Cst. Kevin Cranley (seven days);
Cst. Jesica Innes (four days);
Cst. Patrick Lynch (seven days);
Sgt. Tom McNulty (five days);
Cst. William Moldrik (seven days);
Cst. Craig Nelson (four days);
Sgt. Peter Steringa (seven days); and
Cst. Allan Villers (seven days).
All of the officers admitted to consuming alcohol in a public place while off-duty and many admitted they failed to follow proper procedure when questioning the two men. Bordeleau said several officers failed to properly identify themselves as police officers to the men, and didn't explain why they were being detained.
Two other officers, Consts. Jason Ross and Erin Korslick, will plead guilty when all officers return June 12 for sentencing.
Baltin said many of the officers, who have between one and 21 years of experience, have been recognized for "exemplary service" and volunteer work.
"It has been a challenge (for these officers) to re-establish their credibilty to the community they serve," he said.
Ten other officers have had their pay docked after admitting guilt earlier, in connection with the drinking party. Their names will not be made public because they elected to be disciplined internally, Saliba said.
The internal affairs investigation was prompted last September when Richard Cimpoesu, 24, and Orlando Canizalez, 20, came forward with allegations against the officers.
They claim they were chased down and punched last Aug. 28, after officers who were drinking beer and acting rowdy behind the Ethan Allen furniture store, on Dundas St. W., caught them using a video camera.
Canizalez and Cimpoesu have filed a $12-million lawsuit against Peel police.
None of the officers involved face criminal charges, only internal police discipline.
Home Page - Main Table of Contents - Back up a page - Back to Top
[COMMENTS BY DON B. - ]