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Toronto Sun - Tue, Sept. 26, 2006 - By Alan Cairns
Cops face music
Peel chief pledges to do 'right thing' [1]
Peel Police Chief Mike Metcalfe promises that his command will not run from allegations that have rocked the service in the past week.
Amid allegations of illegal boozing, thefts of confiscated beer, wild driving and attempts to wipe out citizen videotapes of police misdeeds, Metcalfe vowed that his administration would be "transparent" and he would "do the right thing."
"Our officers will be held accountable," said Metcalfe, who became chief of the 2,400-member force in January.
He told the Sun in an interview yesterday that he "truly" believes all police should be "held to a higher standard."
"We hold the public accountable for what they do and we're going to hold ourselves accountable for what we do," he said.
"You cannot charge some kids for having illegal alcohol in the park and then do the same thing yourself a few ours later," Metcalfe said.
"We have the power to take someone's liberty away and we have to take that seriously ... it is a responsible job and I want everyone to take a responsible approach to it."
Internal affairs is probing allegations by two young men that they were chased, beaten and threatened after they videotaped about 20 cops drinking noisily near their Erin Mills Rd. and Fifth Line townhouse.
The probe into the videotape incident began immediately after Mississauga lawyer Bill Bain called to complain about the alleged assaults and threats on his clients, Richard Cimpoesu, 24, and Orlando Canizalez, 21, Metcalfe said,
"There is a certain amount of embarrassment down there (at 11 Division). It is not a happy place. They know they are going to have to work harder to get the public confidence back," he said.
"You do so many good things and then something like this happens and overshadows the good things, almost eliminates them, which is unfortunate," Metcalfe said.
Allegations of police drinking in other Mississauga locations will also be probed.
The Sun reported last week the admissions of an ex-Peel cop who confirmed anonymously that he not only took part in 11 Division boozing, but also in after-shift parties at several baseball diamonds and parks.
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