Calgary police watchdog 'forgot' impaired report
Alderman wants council to have more say
Suzanne Wilton
With files from Sorcha McGinnis
Oct. 6, 2004
The chairwoman of the Calgary Police Commission was told months ago about a rumoured drunk driving incident involving a police officer, but did nothing about it.
The incident involved allegations of a coverup by senior police brass.
After denying knowledge of the incident in an interview on Friday, Sandy Durrant admitted to the Herald Tuesday that she was told of the incident almost six months ago.
"I just forgot, I guess," Durrant said, adding the information did not come to the commission as a formal complaint. "We knew of it as a rumour. In no way did we try to cover this up. We just had no information to work with."
Police chief Jack Beaton asked the commission to appoint an outside investigator after a letter was sent to Alberta Solicitor General Heather Forsyth. The commission has asked the RCMP to investigate.
The revelations came the same day Ald. Diane Colley-Urquhart said city council needs a stronger role in the police commission. She said it is in danger of becoming a police puppet.
Colley-Urquhart, running for re-election in Ward 13, said she is "deeply disturbed" by the commission's approach to complaints about police brutality and allegations of misconduct.
"One of the options this council could consider, as other jurisdictions have done, is to play a stronger role in the governance of the police," Colley-Urquhart said.
Colley-Urquhart slammed Durrant and the commission Tuesday, saying complaints of brutality and misconduct are not treated seriously enough.
"I'm deeply concerned about how these things are being treated by the police commission," said Colley-Urquhart, pointing to three recent complaints of police brutality. "If people complain about unnecessary force, you don't need a trend line to tell you about that."
The alderman did not outline how council could take a more active role in the commission.
The police commission is a civilian body empowered to oversee complaints against the chief of police. It is also the appeal body for complaints against the department.
The commission reports to city council but is governed by provincial legislation.
The Police Act specifies two of the members may be municipal employees -- including members of council.
Mayor Dave Bronconnier said council has limited control over the commission.
"There is a growing interest in major cities, for a variety of reasons, to look at how (police) services operate," Bronconnier said Tuesday from Ottawa.
At least three complaints of police brutality have been filed recently.
Last week, a 26-year-old said he was, without provocation, slammed onto the hood of a police car with such force his teeth went through his lips. Also, a Calgary businessman says he was brutally beaten by a traffic officer who pulled him over for speeding.
Those complaints come on the heels of claims by a Halifax man, Jason Noseworthy, 22, that he was kneed in the groin by an officer, forcing him to undergo two hours of surgery.
He said the officer kneed him in the groin while questioning him on Sept. 25 about a burglary he knew nothing about.
And Calgary's police chief has asked for another agency to look into allegations that an officer drove drunk to the scene of an accident, and a deputy chief ordered other officers not to take action.
Beaton said there was no formal complaint, making it difficult to take action.
"Rumours are not complaints," said Beaton.
Mark Dyrholm, a candidate running against Colley-Urquhart, said the commission is approaching the issue the right way.
"I don't want to play the emotional card," said Dyrholm. "I want to look at the trend, see why it's happening and implement processes to deal with the problem that seems to be causing the trend."
Candidate Bob Krengel said he thinks there should be greater public oversight of the police. Like Colley-Urquhart, he questioned the commission's independence.
"Maybe it's time for a judicial inquiry," said Krengel. "I don't think the commission is handling this right."
Durrant said the commission takes all complaints seriously. "I think it's inappropriate to declare a trend based on a handful of complaints that are in great part a result of, to be frank, media coverage," said Durrant.
"The commission is very concerned about any complaints regarding any alleged misconduct by police officers, and has a thorough, complete process in place to appropriately manage those complaints."
The solicitor general said she may set up a civilian panel to examine complaints against police.
© Calgary Herald 2004