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www.durhamrcgion.com THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, OCTOBER 8,2003 PAGE 3 i Police Beat OCT. 8, 2003 Abandoned truck crashes into police car CLARINGTON - A 24-year-old man laces an assortment of criminal charges after crashing a stolen pickup pickup truck during a police pursuit Thursday. Durham Regional Police said the chase began when a patrol officer tried stopping a suspected impaired driver near Hwy. 2 and Maple Grove Road in Courtice just before midnight. midnight. The driver of the 1989 Dodge look off northbound on Maple Grove at a high rate of speed, then east- bound on Nash Road. With police pursuing, the driver lost control at an S-bcnd near Regional Regional Road 57, veered into a field and flipped over, said Sergeant Paul Malik. The truck landed on its wheels and the suspect jumped out of the moving vehicle, said Sgt. Malik, adding the driverless pickup continued continued until it collided with a police cruiser. The slightly injured suspect was captured after a short foot chase, he said. The officer in the cruiser wasn't wasn't hurt in the crash. Kenneth Anthony Ranni, of no fixed address, has been charged with flight from police, theft over $5,000, possession of stolen property, dangerous dangerous driving, impaired driving, breach of probation and breach of bail conditions. Seat-belt rate below average in Durham DURHAM - When it comes to buckling up, Durham Region drivers are going down. During a recent annual seat-belt count, Durham motorists scored an 87 per cent compliance rate, slightly less than last year and well below the provincial average of 92.5 per cent, according to Durham Regional Police. Police. As part of the fall initiative, police police volunteers and students of Durham College's Law and Security Administration program and the Ontario Ontario University Institute of Technology Technology conducted the two-hour visual seal-belt check Sept. 27 at various intersections .in .Osjiawa,^ Ajax and Whitby. Of 8,466 vehicles inspected, 1,097 drivers were not wearing their belts. The provincial average compliance compliance rate of 92.5 is based on a 1991 Transport Canada survey. The penalty for not buckling up is $90, plus a $20 victim surcharge, and two licence demerit points. Drug squad officers 'fed up' Mass transfer of officers under way BY STEPHEN SHAW Staff Writer DURHAM - Durham's drug squad is in disarray after officers quit the unit en masse, incensed over an ongoing OPP probe into alleged misconduct. Eleven officers in the 12-member squad requested reassignment on Aug. 28, according to police sources citing growing anger and frustration over the OPP investigation as the reason. "It's my understanding there was basically a mass request for transfer," said Doug Cavanaugh, president of the Durham Regional Police Association. "It's disappointing but not surprising surprising it's come to this. The (OPP investigation) investigation) has worn them down. It's entering entering its ninth month and officers sti|l have no knowledge of what they're even being investigated for," lie said. "1 think the strain of working under these circumstances just became unbearable. unbearable. The burden of working under a cloud must have been overwhelming, and without knowing the allegations against them... it's heen devastating for them. I give them credit for holding up as long as they have." Police Chief Kevin McAIpine in February called in the OPP to probe allegations of wrongdoing, some criminal in nature, levelled by an ex- member of the drug unit against a few fellow fellow officers. Police association officials were originally originally led to believe the OPP investigation investigation would take about six months. Chief McAIpine yesterday confirmed confirmed the transfers arc under way, but said some of the officers' tenure with the squad was up at the end of the year. "There's no doubt members of the drug unit are and continue to be under significant pressure because of the investigation investigation and some, for professional and family reasons, have chosen to leave the unit. We respect that," the chief said. Some of the officers are still Kevin McAIpine with the squad, he said. Mr. Cavanaugh said drug officers were "fed up" with the length and secrecy secrecy surrounding the probe and wanted wanted out. Some also are angry at how the controversy has been handled by police police brass and perceive the unit's credibility credibility as being undermined, according to officers speaking on condition of anonymity. Mr. Cavanaugh worried the exodus leaves the unit without experienced officers officers - all constables - who are trained for specialized drug investigations. Long-time Durham drug squad Sergeant Jack Dancey, who is highly regarded by peers across Ontario, has also left the unit at bis own request. A second sergeant earlier re-as- signed is a main locus of the OPP probe, sources say. "You had highly trained, highly experienced experienced and dedicated officers and now you don't. That's a loss to the citizens citizens of Durham," Mr. Cavanaugh said. He added drug cops have "one of the dirtiest jobs in policing," often working in dangerous undercover situations situations where the stress level is high. "They're dealing with some hardcore, hardcore, hardened criminals, people with loaded firearms in their waistband or sitting in the front seat of their cars." The transfers are being phased in so that their replacements can be trained. In addition to the two replaced sergeants, a new staff sergeant and inspector inspector have been assigned to the drug unit as part of the restructuring. n University of Ontario INSTITUTE OF TEC II N O I. O fi Y Police host disabled games next month PICKERING --The Durham Regional Regional Police invite children with disabilities disabilities to participate in a day of fun. The 19th annual Durham Regional Police Disabled Children's Games will be held on Saturday, Nov. 15. All children with disabilities are encouraged to participate in the event, which runs from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Pickering Recreation Complex. Spectators are welcome. Participants will move from station station to station competing in athletic events run by police officers volunteering volunteering their time for the event. Stations Stations include: bowling, a basketball throwing game and wheelchair hockey. hockey. For registration information for the event call the Pickering Recreation Recreation Complex at (905) 831-1711 or (905) 683-6582. Come visit us at the University of Ontario Institute'of Technology 2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa Saturday, October 18,10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Visitors will have an opportunity to speak to deans, faculty and students, tour our campus, learn about our programs and enjoy a complimentary barbecue. For more information, or to RSVP, call 905.721.3190 (toll free 1.866.844.8648), e-mail admissions@uoit.ca or visit our Web site at www.uolt.ca. 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