Outrage: Toronto cop arrests another cop for alleged drunk driving, and he becomes the ‘rat’ bad guy?

Toronto, Canada – It happened back in November 2009 when a rookie Toronto Police officer was on patrol and found an erratic driver and brought him back to the station and prepared a breath analysis, but the accused driver was an off-duty Halton Regional Police officer. As reported today in the Toronto Star, What message does this send?

The alleged drunk driver turned out to be Breton Berthiaume a Halton Regional officer and is still working. The Toronto Police officer who charged him with impaired driving and having a blood-alcohol level over 80 milligrams was constable Andrew Vanderburgh, who has been ridiculed by other officers in the Toronto Police Service, for doing such a thing.

Is this what we can expect at R.I.D.E. spot checks, when police in the GTA pull over random cars to see if anyone has been drinking. This is an ‘OUTRAGE’ that it appears some police think that other officers, should be exempt from driving drunk.

Not a chance, anyone who has been drinking/driving, should, and must be charged, no matter who they are.

Officer Andrew Vanderburgh did the right thing, he hadn’t been on the force long enough to know, what he should have done.

The problem here, is why is this taking so long? Is this a ploy so Berthiaume can claim he did not have a speedy trial?

It’s necessary that all Police Chiefs/Police Associations everywhere step forward, and make it clear that this conduct, is in no way the practice of any police force, and no-one is exempt from drinking and driving, at anytime.

Can we expect that to happen?

Not likely.

Even after Berthiaume was charged and arrested an officer at 22 Division in Toronto was so outraged at Vanderburgh, that he followed him when he finished his paperwork on Berthiaume, and in a marked police vehicle pulled Vanderburgh over and charged him with running a red light. Charges were later dismissed and Const. James Little was given disciplinary action of 20 days’ pay.

Little chose “to disregard his professional obligations and embark on a course of retaliatory action against a colleague performing his sworn, lawful duty,” said Supt. Robin Breen.
“He abused his position to express his personal displeasure about his colleague’s arrest of an off-duty police officer.”

We all better watch this one, as we watch the pending charges coming forward for the actions of the Toronto Police Service during the G20 debacle, two years ago.

Daniel … Toronto, Canada
My take on everything
@dandmb50

Toronto G20 – ‘This ain’t Canada anymore’ ‘Take back the city’ said police and officials

Toronto, Canada - Many think it was a mistake, but I did make my way down to the G20 Summit in June 2010. I saw it first hand, and was not impressed with the Toronto Police Service.

I walked up Yonge Street about 20 minutes after the total destruction from Queen to College and did not see one police officer anywhere. The ‘Black Bloc’ and the crowd had free hand to do whatever violence they wanted, and no cops to stop them.

These videos pretty well tell the whole story, but someone must be held responsible for this terrible police handling up such an event. Toronto Police Service Chief Bill Blair has said in effect, he never had this situation before, and may have made some mistakes.

What an understatement. He blew it, and disgraced the city. He should just come clean and admit he blew it, and move on and get rid of the officers who damaged the police reputation.

York Regional Police Sergeant 815 said, “This ain’t Canada anymore, it’s G20 land” and then he went on to say, “No civil rights”

“I’m concerned with the shortcomings that have been identified. I think it has had an impact on public confidence, public trust. And as the chief of police, I know the value of the trust of the public. So I think we need to demonstrate a commitment to address those shortcomings, to make the changes necessary through our policy procedure, training or equipment to make sure that in any future operations that we have addressed those shortcomings so that we can do the best possible service for the people of Toronto.” said Chief Blair.

Read more about ‘My Take’ on the G20 Summit in Toronto, June 2010 - CLICK HERE

Daniel … Toronto, Canada
My take on everything
@dandmb50

Do some police ‘lie’ in court testimony? An Ontario court Judge thinks they did, and awarded $70,000 to victim Michael Parsons

It’s unusual for any citizen to come forward and say “the police beat me up, tasered me and then lied in court,” said Michael Parsons of St. Catharines just outside Toronto in the Niagara Region. This happened back in 2003 when he was a passenger in an SUV and hollered at some cops in a parked, marked car and the chase was on.

Parsons was grabbed as he exited the vehicle and roughed up, thrown in the ditch and tased all over his body by five Niagara Regional Police officers.

But back when he first filed the suit in 2009 the police originally charged him with assault, Judge Raymond Harris said in his 80 page ruling their actions were, “offensive and egregious” that he awarded punitive damages, in the amount of $50,000. But he suggested he would have given more, if the plaintiff had asked.

In 2009 Parsons filed another civil suit against the police and won, and was awarded $70,000 in damages.

Parson’s claim to the court was, negligence, false arrest, assault, malicious prosecution and breach of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. All charges were dismissed.

I always love it when the police say, “he is known to police,” what does that exactly mean, does he have a relative on the police force, a friend, or does it mean, the police have had problems with him before?

Most important and not addressed

But the most important and serious outcome of this civil suit, is what has happened to the officers who did not tell the ‘truth’ on the stand?

There appears to be a double standard, that when a citizen lies on the stand there are consequences, but if a police officer does it, a note is put in their police jacket (file.)

It’s also very important to remember that this is an isolated incident and the majority of officers everywhere are honest, and hard-working and offer a wonderful service to our communities.

That doesn’t seem fair and perception is everything.

UPDATE: Police Corruption Trial Toronto - Currently five drug squad detectives of the Toronto Police Service have been accused of theft, extortion and attempting to obstruct justice eight years after the fact.

Ontario Superior Court Justice Gladys Pardu gave an acquittal of five of the 14 charges facing the officers.

The trial continues in Ontario Superior Court.

How will these officers perform on the stand, and if they lie, what are the consequences?

We have their picture here, but when many officers are charged with anything, we never see their picture, why is that? If a regular citizen is charged with anything, that is the first thing we see on the front pages.

“These officers are KNOWN to the public.”

Daniel … Toronto, Canada
My take on everything
@dandmb50

Blacks and browns are targeted more than whites in Toronto for spot checks, police even admit it, ‘Stop and Frisk?’

Toronto, Canada - An article in the Toronto Star this week brought about some interesting and disturbing questions about who Toronto Police stop and question. They mention that the statistics are much higher for black and brown skinned people being stopped for investigation when they are out of their home areas?

Do they do the same at places such as Skydome (Rogers Centre,) the Go Train and King and Bay streets? These stops, “fishing expeditions” appear to be done in ‘just’ high crime areas, tell that to black people. It sounds like the “Stop and Frisk” program they have in New York City, where they can pull over or stop anyone, anytime, to see if they have a gun. Recent statistics show, over 576,395 were stopped and frisked, and a very small majority were found to have any guns, or arrests and yet almost 80%, were black or Hispanic.

I wanted to make a comment on the Toronto Star article, but the comments section was CLOSED after one day, and yet when it is about Mayor Rob Ford, the comment section is open for weeks? Be sure to read the comment section in the Star and you will get a feeling about what the folks think about these stops.
Talk about stereotypes, Toronto people feel these stops are warranted, even though very few arrests are completed after the fishing, stops.

I can’t remember when I’ve been stopped for no reason, and is that because I’m a white middle aged male? And if I happen to be in a ‘high crime area’ which may be black, I am not stopped either. Why?

How many white people get pulled over or stopped in Toronto, when they are out of their home area? Very few, unless they are beautiful young white girls.

The statistics in the Toronto Star article are disturbing, and must be reassessed. Remember to always be polite and co-operative, if/when you are ever stopped, because they are set-up for this, and they will win.

Daniel … Toronto, Canada
My take on everything
@dandmb50

Toronto G20 protesters and demonstrators are still before the courts and another one was exonerated Thursday, all charges not guilty

Toronto, Canada - As reported in the Toronto Star  today another innocent man was found not guilty in his illegal arrest at Spadina/Queen in June  2010 at the G20 summit in Toronto.

To see all my reports on the G20 debacle CLICK HERE  and you can decide for yourself.  

As you can see, below, this police officer (‘crazy cop Lady,’  still has not been identified) was a little strung out, angry and aggressive, exactly what  Judge Melvyn Green  said in court Thursday, “The only organized or collective physical aggression at that location that evening was perpetrated by police each time they advanced on demonstrators,”   and he was referring to the “kettling”   of people at Queen/Spadina on Sunday, June 28/2010, in his 29 page judgement.

“Kettling”   is a term used when police surround people completely and move in on all four sides and move closer and closer so no one is allowed to leave. They held these citizens in that area for four hours in a heavy rain storm with no water, no washrooms, and no charges. After the whole episode had been on live local TV they finally released all the people.The Toronto Police Service has said they will no longer use this technique.

UPDATE – August 13/2011 -  Outgoing deputy chief  Tony Warr who retires at the end of the month thinks the public and the media have overreacted to the conditions at the  G20 summit  in Toronto, as reported Saturday in the Toronto Star.

Daniel … Toronto, CANADA
My take on everything

@dandmb50

G20 UPDATE: Kettling (surrounding protesters completely at the G20) was used for the first and last time, June 27/2010

Toronto, CANADA -  The Toronto Star  has reported the Toronto Police Service   has announced  they will not use the technique of  “kettling”    protesters like they did almost a year ago on June 27th at the G20 summit in Toronto. What they did,  protesters were gathered at Spadina/Queen and the police riot squad lines completely surrounded them on all four sides and held them in the rain for almost  four hours without arrest, it was shameful and on LIVE TV.“It is a violation of Section 9 of the Charter, which provides and guarantees the freedom from arbitrary detention,”  said Nathalie Des Rosiers, general counsel for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.   “It rounds up, detains and prevents from moving large groups of people for which the police have no evidence that they have done anything wrong.” 

Not only is it against the charter of rights, it is against fairness and common sense. It’s like in public school, one kid would act up and the teacher says,  “You all are going to stay for a detention unless you come forward and point out the offending student,”  it’s just not right.  There were many things “not right”   at the G20 summit almost a year ago in Toronto and those that are responsible for this terrible situation must be held accountable, it is surely time for an inquest into the actions of the police. Only a few officers have even been charged for assaulting citizens during the summit, and most of the over 1000 that were arrested have had their charges dismissed.

Daniel … Toronto, CANADA
My take on everything
@dandmb50

UPDATE: G20 officer now identified from almost a year ago, ‘Constable Glenn Weddell,’ of Toronto Police Service for assault on protester

UPDATE – June 10/2011 – 4pm – Constable Glenn Weddell (Badge 99944) Toronto Police Service has been charged criminally with assault causing bodily harm in relation to an alleged assault June 2010. He attended SIU headquarters this afternoon around 2pm Friday.

Toronto, CANADA - We are coming up to the one year anniversary of the G20 fiasco in downtown Toronto last June at the G20 summit and finally another police officer has been identified in allegedly assaulting citizen Dorian Barton. This is just on the heals of the investigation into the spending spree that went on while the G20 summit was in Toronto and had a budget of over a $$ billion, but only 600 million was actually spent. However many businesses that were affected and damaged by the rioting that went on downtown, have yet to be compensated.

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) 

is investigating the alleged assault on Dorian after he was hit by an unidentified officer until pictures came forward and none of the other officers were able to identify him until recently. Dorian was hauled off to the Torontonomo Bay Detention

Centre  and had an injured arm, without any medical treatment and several bruises. Even the officer that was with Weddell during the summit and bunked with him during the summit were unable to identify him. Is there, or was there the code blue of silence?Announced by the Toronto Star today, Constable Glenn Weddell, of Toronto Police Service is finally being investigated, but he never “knew”they were looking for him?? Yeah .. right.

Dorian Barton assault details

More stories about the G20 summit in Toronto, June 2010 .. CLICK HERE

Daniel … Toronto, CANADA
My take on everything
@dandmb50

To go to my FULL WordPress BLOG CLICK HERE or click the Header .. Daniel .. Toronto, CANADA  at the top of each page

 

 

UPDATE: Toronto G20 summit in June 2010, many questions still unanswered.

UPDATE: March 14/2012 - UPDATE: March 14/2012 – The G20 dabacle is not over yet, as another Toronto Police officer has been named for abusing protesters during the G20 Summit in June 2010 in Toronto. An exlusive UPDATE today in the Toronto Star.

UPDATE – November 4/2010 – Nametags, name badges have become an issue as Toronto Police Service (TPS) Chief Bill Blair attended a House of Commons public safety hearing in Ottawa yesterday and announced that 90 TPS officers will receive, Blair said, “It’s still to be determined but the discussion, I believe, is the loss of a day’s pay.” for making an “individual decision” to remove their name badges.
But why are do they even have Velcro on the nametags, why aren’t they sewn on securely so they don’t come off at anytime no matter where they are. They should have been sewn on permanently from the start when they put nametags on the uniforms.

To see all G20 related BLOGS – CLICK HERE or click the picture.

Today (Saturday July 10/2010) at Queens Park at 2pm. What happened to the name tags on the police officers? (see below)

All images are © COPYRIGHT – All rights reserved – with “DMB” Watermark.

Toronto Star article
UPDATE – July 10/2010 - I did attend and it went off without a hitch but the riot squad was standing by at Queen/Spadina (on the side streets) as the protesters sat down for about 20 minutes at the intersection.
I did find an Inspector (Toronto Police Service) at the protest and asked him about why some officers during the G20 had their name tags blackened out. Check out the Toronto Star article regarding “no identification” on some front line officers. Inspector H. Page said “No comment”
I think that was the whole purpose of the protest today, someone must answer these tough questions before we put the G20 to rest. Was this an individual decision by the front line riot squad or were they instructed that they could take off their name tags by those in charge? That is what we want to know at the very minimum.