STRONG MESSAGE ABOUT UNLAWFUL CONDUCT SENT TO WATERLOO REGIONAL POLICE

James Lockyer, the lawyer for the biker improperly and illegally convicted on weapons charges, has stated that The Ontario Court of Appeal has sent both Waterloo Regional Police and other forces across Canada a "strong message". The message is that the courts will not tolerate either unconstitutional or illegal conduct by police forces. Waterloo Regional Police played fast and loose in searching private property without a warrant and then misled a judge into giving them a warrant for a second search. After that they back a third time and while they found weapons and other illegal goods all three searches were thrown out as evidence based upon the first illegal search and the followup lack of candor in obtaining a belated search warrant. This article titled "Freed biker's lawyer blast police" was published in yesterday's Waterloo Region Record.

Mr. Lockyer made it clear that the Constitution protects ALL Canadians from improper searches and seizure. Waterloo Region Crown Attorney Mark Poland stated that they are reviewing the matter in order to determine their next steps. An Application for Leave to Appeal could be sent to the Supreme Court of Canada although only 10% of those leaves to Appeal are successful. This is at least the third major black eye for our local police force this summer. At what point in time will an independent inquiry or investigation be called to look into our local forces internal problems and administration at the top levels?