ANOTHER MISBEHAVING REGIONAL POLICE OFFICER

Today's Waterloo Region Record carrys this story "Officer faulted for arresting drinker who criticized him". This occurred at the corner of University Ave. and King St. in Waterloo, five years ago. The officer involved charged a David Cormack with being drunk in public only after he and the accused had exchanged words about the officer's driving. In a suit in small claims court against the officer the judge indicated that "...there were no grounds for his arrest and detention."and awarded Mr. Cormack $2,500. Mr. Cormack was represented by lawyer Davin charney who has now won a number of suits in small claims court against local regional officers.

I wonder if and when our police brass are going to wake up and smell the shit. I wonder if and when our pathetic police board are going to wake up and smell the shit. Somehow our police are becoming petty bullies who like to throw their weight around. How many "anomolies" in police behaviour does it take before we realize that these attitudes and behaviour are becoming ubiquitous with our regional police? This is nowhere near the first or the last incidents of bad police behaviour nor are a fraction of them ever pursued. I personally know of two other cases of police abuse of authority resulting in jail time that have not been pursued. It makes me believe that local police have been encouraged to throw their weight around including provoking confrontations. That makes them no more than armed bullies in a street gang.

While very early going in an investigation, it sounds as if the death of an eighteen year old in Toronto at the hands of a police officer, may have some similar elements. To date I've heard the police officer pulled his Taser, a knife was produced and the officer then shot the eighteen year old. The exact order of events has not been proven in a court of law or anywhere else yet. That is the problem. While Police Chief Blair is stating that Toronto police will fully cooperate with the SIU (special investigations unit) that is less than encouraging or likely. The SIU do not have a solid legal authority (by intent) and are often ignored by police when they request information and evidence. Therefore when the Toronto police chief hides behind a toothless tiger, you have to be skeptical.