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Harold never met a cop he wouldn't stay charges against



Prosecutor named in police probe

Lawyer to rule whether charges should be laid against West Van officers

Published: Saturday, February 03, 2007

WEST VANCOUVER  A special prosecutor was appointed Friday to decide if some West Vancouver police officers as a result of allegations of misconduct , including reports that some officers were drinking in the police station during parties.

Special prosecutor Harold Rusk will carry out "an independent charge assessment" after the conclusion of the continuing investigation by Victoria police officers into "allegations of possible misconduct on the part of certain members of the West Vancouver Police Department," the Ministry of the Attorney-General said in a brief statement.

The West Vancouver police department came under scrutiny following revelations that Const. Lisa Alford was convicted of drunk driving after a drinking party with other officers inside the police station. The incident occurred in November 2005.

Alford, whose blood-alcohol level was three times the legal limit, pleaded guilty to impaired driving after hitting another car. Her licence was suspended for a year last January, but she was later awarded a promotion within her department.

Victoria police are also probing allegations that a nine-year veteran stole money meant for victims of crime and that one or more officers had their personal vehicles towed by the city's towing company.

After the media storm, West Vancouver Police Chief Scott Armstrong was dismissed on Dec. 4 by the West Vancouver Police Board. Armstrong, who was only a year into his five-year contract, has since mounted a wrongful dismissal suit

Rusk's duties as special prosecutor are to offer any legal advice required during the investigation by Victoria police, read the investigators' final report and decide if any charges are warranted. He is then to write a report outlining his findings.

The request for a special prosecutor came from the Victoria police force's Chief Const. Paul Battershill, who is overseeing the investigation.
In an interview Friday, Rusk said it was too early to comment on the matter.

"I'm at the very early stages of this and I'm not totally clear exactly what we'll be dealing with," he said.

"I don't have a report from Crown council yet," he added, referring to the ongoing Victoria police investigation. "If they don't find any evidence of any wrongdoing, there won't be much for me to do."

West Vancouver Mayor Pam Goldsmith-Jones did not return calls about the matter on Friday.

After news of the incident came to light, however, Goldsmith-Jones did make clear that drinking on city property, including police headquarters, isn't appropriate.

We take this seriously," she said at the time. "We have a zero-tolerance policy for consumption of alcohol and drugs at work."

No criminal charges against West Van police

Vancouver Sun

Published: Wednesday, April 25, 2007
No criminal charges will be laid against members of the West Vancouver Police Department over allegations of police misconduct.
Victoria lawyer Harold Rusk, who was appointed independent special prosecutor in January to investigate the claims, said no charges were warranted.
The claims of misconduct related to impaired driving by a West Vancouver officer and allegations that another officer had misappropriated funds meant for victims of crime.
Despite Rusk’s decision, the case is still under investigation by the Police Complaints Commissioner, who will decide whether disciplinary action should be taken.
West Vancouver Mayor Pam Goldsmith-Jones said the decision not to lay criminal charges was “good news for the department.”
“It’s an important step in the process and I’m glad the special prosecutor was involved to protect the integrity of the police department.”
 The request for a special prosecutor came from the Victoria police force's Chief Const. Paul Battershill, who is overseeing the ongoing police investigation.
His duties as special prosecutor included offering legal advice during the investigation, reading the investigators' final report and deciding iwhether charges should be laid.
Vancouver Sun