Pubdate: Wed, 20 Nov 2002
Source: Terrace Standard (CN BC)
Copyright: 2002 Terrace Standard
Contact:  http://www.terracestandard.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1329
Author: Jeff Nagel

MAYOR ASKED COPS TO LAY OFF MARIJUANA PARTY OPPONENT

MAYOR JACK Talstra met with Terrace's top cop because he feared any drug 
investigation of Marijuana Party challenger Bob Erb during the election 
might appear politically motivated.

Talstra -- whose law firm handles federal drug prosecutions here -- said he 
urged RCMP Inspector Marlin Degrand to use caution because he didn't want 
to be accused of directing police forces against his mayoral opponent.

"I asked them to lay off Bob," Talstra said Nov. 14, two days before voting 
day. "I don't need that."

Talstra said the sensitivity of the situation was heightened because of his 
job and professional duties relating to Erb -- who has been the subject of 
police drug investigations and prosecutions in the past.

"I'm a federal prosecutor," Talstra said. "I have his files in my office. I 
know more about him than anybody. But it's confidential material. I haven't 
said anything about it and I wouldn't."

Degrand says it was a short conversation.

"Mayor Talstra spoke with me very briefly about the election," Degrand 
said. "He didn't want the appearance that the RCMP were acting in a manner 
to support him."

Degrand said he assured Talstra that police investigations aren't motivated 
by politics or timed to elections.

"I said 'No sir, even if you wanted to you couldn't influence us,'" Degrand 
said. "I assured him we wouldn't discuss an investigation with him if one 
was ongoing."

"We would never deem it anywhere close to appropriate to intervene in a 
mayoral election."

Degrand said RCMP here were not aware that Erb was providing free marijuana 
at an open house he held last Wednesday, the day of the advance poll, at 
the carpenters hall.

Had they been, he said, they would have investigated it as an apparent case 
of marijuana trafficking.
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MAP posted-by: Beth