Pubdate: Sun, 23 Mar 2003
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2003 The Province
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Adrienne Tanner, The Province

SIX POLICE OFFICERS HIT WITH ASSAULT CHARGES

Assault charges have been laid against six Vancouver police officers who 
allegedly beat up three suspected drug dealers in Stanley Park on Jan. 14.

All six are charged with three counts of assault, assault with a weapon and 
obstruction of justice.

They are: Constables James Kenny, 33, Raymond Gardner, 31, Brandon Steele, 
30, Gabriel Kojima, 23, Duncan Gemmell, 38, and Christopher Cronmiller, 31.

Kenny is also facing one additional obstruction charge.

None has more than 41/2 years of experience as a police officer.

The prosecution will be led by Robert Gourlay, a senior criminal lawyer 
from Vancouver.

In a short news release, the Vancouver Police Department stated that the 
officers were suspended Jan. 24, immediately after the department learned 
of the accusations.

All six remain suspended with pay in accordance with labour law, the news 
release states.

The news release also included a brief statement from Chief Const. Jamie 
Graham.

"We must all understand and respect that criminal law is based on fairness 
and that all persons must not be convicted before their legal right to a 
fair trial," it said in part.

The alleged assaults were reported to management by a concerned Vancouver 
police officer.

In later interviews, the alleged victims told The Province they were 
rounded up by police, driven to Stanley Park, beaten and left to walk home 
shoeless.

The allegations arose just two months after the release of the Pivot 
report, in which 50 people in the Downtown Eastside swore affidavits 
complaining of abuse at the hands of Vancouver police.

The affidavits give examples of beatings that resulted in smashed teeth and 
broken bones and describe "Starlight Tours" where perceived undesirables 
are picked up and dumped in neighbourhoods far from home.
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