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| NEWS > 18 February 2006 |
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Ethical Survival: Officers mus
By Randy Sutton
An LAPD honor guard stands tall and represents everything that’s right about police work. Ethics allegations hurt everyone who wears a badge.
On a dreary autumn morning seven years ago, Sgt. Philip Ross stuffed his fully loaded 9mm SIG into his waistband and headed into the wooded area behind his home. He thought of his wife, his daughter and his 14 years at the police department where his fellow officers were more like family than co-workers. A note in his pocket said, simply, “I’m sorry, please forgive me.” Attached to the note was a New Jersey g... Read more
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 Article sourced from
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Edmonton Sun - Canada
18 February 2006
This article appeared in the above title/site.
To view it in its entirity click this link.
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EDITORIAL: Boyd's big test
New police Chief Mike Boyd has talked a lot about restoring accountability and integrity to the troubled Edmonton Police Service. Which is why we're so disappointed that the two EPS members who have been charged in relation to the photo-radar contract scandal have, so far, been allowed to remain on the job.
After a 19-month investigation, RCMP announced this week that Staff Sgt. Kerry Nisbet was charged with two counts of breach of trust and one count of accepting a secret commission, while Det. Thomas Bell faces three counts of breach of trust by a public officer and accepting a secret commission.
Despite these serious charges, which come with potential jail time of up to 14 years, both officers continue in the day-to-day employ of the Edmonton Police Service. Nisbet, who was head of the traffic unit, is now in the drug section, while Bell is now working in the Integrated Response to Organized Crime unit.
Yes, both individuals are innocent until proven guilty. That's a part of the legal system in this country with which we have absolutely no arguments, having written many times in this space over the years about the tendency among many in society to presume that anyone charged with any crime must obviously be guilty.
But these are not two ordinary, run-of-the-mill citizens. They are law-enforcement officers who are empowered by our society with upholding and enforcing the law. Now they face very serious criminal charges. They cannot be allowed to continue working for the police force as if nothing has happened!
Which is not to say that we're demanding Nisbet and Bell be immediately fired or disciplined or suspended without pay. Hardly. They are, as we said, innocent until proven guilty.
Surely, though, Chief Boyd would agree that the officers should be put on leave with full pay until this matter is fully resolved. Failure to do so will only continue to erode the public's confidence in the EPS and strike a serious blow to the new chief's claims that he's going to clean up the image of the battered police force.
Similarly, given that charges have also been laid against ACS Public Sector Solutions, Inc., the company that provides photo-radar services in Edmonton, the police commission must rip up the contract when it meets on Feb. 26. Most Edmontonians barely tolerate photo radar as it is. But allowing ACS to continue sending photo-radar tickets to Edmontonians while fighting criminal charges risks a backlash against photo radar the likes of which this city has never seen. The month-to-month contract must be cancelled, immediately.
Chief Boyd, this is the first real test of your leadership. Edmontonians are watching to see if you pass or fail.
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