Wednesday, December 15, 1999
Lindsay cleared ... but is it over?
So said police commission chairman Bob Dean months ago -- before complaints against the chief and the probe into allegations of corruption within the capital's police service really began. And so he was. Yesterday, the results of an eight-month investigation by a six-man team, led by the RCMP's assistant commissioner Rob Leatherdale, deemed all but one -- involving a wee filing error -- of 65 allegations made by two senior detectives were "either unfounded or unsubstantiated." Said Dean: "Police Chief John Lindsay has been completely and unequivocally cleared of any wrongdoing or impropriety." Months ago, in separate moves, Det. Ron Robertson and Det. Ken Montgomery filed formal complaints against the chief to the police commission, alleging numerous concerns about his failure to direct proper investigations on several fronts. They include coverups, police service members supplying information to outlaw motorcycle gangs and associating with organized criminals. But Commission co-chairman Kathy Grieve dismissed the complaints as "fabrications. "There are two findings, one is unfounded, which really means fabricated -- according to the investigators, that's what we were told," said Grieve. "And unsubstantiated means there was no information that could be found to come to the conclusion that it was unfounded but nothing to substantiate it." Dean and Grieve lavished praise on Lindsay for co-operating with investigators. Grieve went on about police awards and a recent ride-along. And no, allegations made about wrongdoings by other EPS members weren't their concern. Their mandate simply centred around the chief. The media was given a censored version of the task force report to, as Grieve said, "protect the innocent" against whom allegations were made. The commission's confidence in the investigating team's credibility was not affected by the fact the report was leaked. There was some discussion about the squabbling whether the city or province would pick up the tab -- expected to be $400,000 -- for the investigation. Funny how the RCMP team couldn't spring a couple of investigating bucks to take the time to interview Robertson over a coffee. His written statements were received but he was never interviewed. We have to remember Lindsay was only cleared by brother police officers. Dean said this is "pretty much the end of it," but did say what happens next depends on "what procedure the two detectives take from here on in." A public inquiry? "That's not our call." Would the commission grant one if requested by the detectives? "You'll have to wait and see," he said coyly. Is this the end of it? Robertson says no. "Absolutely not. My complaint is backed up by documents. If they're saying the allegations are unfounded I have serious concerns about how it was investigated. "One of my options at this point, which I am seriously considering, is arranging a meeting with to the provincial justice minister -- and taking a package to him." A couple of questions? Did the RCMP interview the people Robertson and Montgomery suggested they chat with? And why on earth would two cops "fabricate" such things and subject themselves to stress, ostracism and enormous legal bills? Previous story: livin' la vida calgary Next story: Sick summit
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