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The Acton Free Press Wednesday Dec 1977 13 Coons knocks Hill off commission JANET BOOTH has prepared her home on Mill St W for six to eight senior residents The new rest home is the culmination of a dream she Has had for years Mrs Booth provides Ho me- like atmosphere for senior citizens Halton Hills Mayor Tom Hill lost his seat on the Halton Regional Police Commission Wednesday when Re gional Council made appoint to the commission Council continued to sup port Mayor Harry Barrett as one of the two members the council ap points to the commission but replaced Mayor Hill with Burlington Councillors Dave Coons Five members of council sought appointment to the police commission Mayor Barrett Mayor Hill Milton Mayor Don Gordon Hills Councillor Mike Arm strong and Burlington Coun cillor Dave Coons each let their names stand for ap pointment The police com mission is generally con one of the prestigious and sought after appoint that the council makes even though the job carries no additional pay for regional councillors Mayor Hill served one year A qualified nurse with years experience in tries Mrs Janet Booth Is the proprietor of the new rest home on Mill St One rest dent lives there now but she expects to have between six and eight when the home is completely filled There a complete home like atmosphere there with good home cooked meals She is keeping the number of residents down to keep that intimate personal intact Mrs Booth has just recently moved back lo town fiom out west saving it was nice In Calgary but her family Is here It has been a life long dream to operate a home like this Mrs Booth says She has wanted to work with old people all her life In addition to her nursing experience sty has a degree Demoted to Constable Chief judges officer guilty An open police hearing found Jason Fields an 18 year police veteran guilty of using unnecessary viol In slapping Gary Sparl ing twice In the face after a policecar chase last May Fields will be demoted to rank of first class constable from that of Sargent He has been a Halton Regional Police sergeant since 1974 Police chief Ken Skerrett acted as Judge and jury in the hearing conducted under the Police Act at Friday Evidence was given under oath The result caught Fields lawyer John Greenwood of Brampton by surprise It did not cross my mind before about the need for an ap peal He consulted the statutes and found an appeal goes to the Police sion Speculation In the court was that a Provincial Court judge will be needed to hear an appeal because the Halton Regional Police Commission has prior knowledge of the case Conviction of Fields rested mainly on the tesli of Gary Sparlings father Roland Sparling Acton Sparling Sr re counted a conversation between himself and Sgt Fields in the Georgetown police station early In the morning of May Police had Sparling In custody at the station following a chase through Georgetown Sparling confirmed ear lier testimony that he received a phone call from Robert a friend of his son told the father he heard someone say Gary would be in hospital before the night was over The soon went to the Georgetown hospital Not finding Gary there he went to the police station Sgt Fields said he gave Gary a rap in the head or words to that effect Sparling Sr said Was upset asked Supt George Moore who acted as crown attorney If I replied the father Sgt Fields who was in uniform denied hitting Gary Sparling The officer told the court that he told Sparling Sr I know what I d do I d cuff him to the head If you t Jason I would have replied big Sr according to Fields Greenwood Fields lawyer maintained Sparling Sr misinterpreted the comment In giving his reasons for the guilty verdict chief Skerrett said to Greenwood Although you did a great job on discrediting their Gary Sparling and Robert Currie credibility I con believe they arc liars all the time He continued the evidence of Sparling which he gave credence to the evidence of the pair According to Gary Sparl ing a 20year old of husky build with dark brown hair to the nape Fields struck him on Ann St Georgetown Sparling and Currie were token on the street a police ofdctr who picked them up as they were walking at about 145 urn Police chased a white 1967 Firebird along several Georgetown streets The car according to police ran sevcril lights and stop signs Police found the car on Ann St Sgt Field was at the scene when Sparling and Currie were driven up Two other officers wire present but neither said they saw Fields strike Sparling Sparling dressed in blue slacks blue shirt and blue and while sleeveless pullover said Fields was cursing and swearing He struck me with the back of the hand and again The sergeant was about a foot away from him and he Sparling has his back against the cruiser ac cording to Sparling of Mounlalnview Rd Georgetown in back of the cruiser said he saw fields do it If Sparling was against the cruiser I don understand how you could see his head hit the sergeant lawyer said You tell what happened His head would be above the car Greenwood asserted Currie I saw it Greenwood Tell me how you could see from inside the I don know I saw it Ruelens president of the Police Association expressed his displeasure at the verdict Goats come in colors Including blue This is just the proverbial sacrificial goat At the beginning of the hearing Greenwood indi to that technl the trial be held in the first place Theoriglnal complaint laid three months after the Inci dent included reference to assault Two weeks ago the reference was taken out and a new charge drawn up on which Field was tried day But Greenwood pointed out the new charge was drawn up mare than six months after the incident and there is a six month statute of limitations did not make a ml on Greenwood and proceeded with the hearing Sparling did not make a complaint about Field until three months later In his statement al that time he said the two blows raised a bump on his head and mode his eyes bloodshot for three weeks while he was in tall He was detained only 12 hours after his arrest May and admitted at the hearing he had been drinking that night Sparling changed his story on another affidavit a month later saying he had origin ally been confused about being in jail on three different occasions In May June and August Field lawyer John Greenwood of Brampton Bald immediately after the hear ing an appeal would be launched During the trial he called all but one of the wit nesses liars and said the prosecution evidence was FOR ALL OF CANADAS BUILDING fill NEEDS MACKENZIE HALTON HILLS ELKS LODGE MOUNTAIN VIEW ROAD GEORGETOWN on the commission when he defeated Burlington Mayor George Harrington But this time Hill received only one of votes and was the first to be eliminated from the run Milton Mayor Don Gordon was the second to be dropped from the competition He attracted only two votes Armstrong had two four and six votes respectively in the three ballots that he stayed in for Barrett was the council first choice and in a separate vote Coons won the second position on the commission Judge William of Burlington Glen Magnus sen of Georgetown and Bill Burlington sit on the commission as provincial appointees Unlike the the provincial ap pointees do receive stipends for sitting on the commission Milton has never hod a repre sentative on the police com mission of the five councillors seeking appointment to the Board of Police Commis si oners made reference to police brutality as a major issue confronting the com mission Mike Armstrong said he was aware of the police brutality issue In the north and aware of the on the police force Noting that he particularly over worked by any committees Armstrong said he felt he could be of benefit lo the com mission Harry Barrett said he spent eight to 12 hours a week on police commission business and had been a member of the commission since 1973 He said he had met with the crown attorney and the Police Commission concerning police brutality charges and told council he knew which officers were in volvcd and what the charges The Oakville mayor said the 1977 budget increase had been held to 12 per cent even Both he and Mr Hill said the region has one of the lowest per capita costs and one of the highest clearance rates hill noted Ihe per capita rate was and he explained the region has one police officer for every people Hill said he too had been at a meeting with the and the crown attorney and assured council the matter of police brutality was being la ken care of Burlington Councillor Jack said he felt that only one half of one per cent of the people In the region knew who Ihe police commissioners ore and he wondered why com oners didn t make more to tt in the press said the press was interested in Just printing the bad news and wasnt inter in running stories about the good things the police force does Hill echoed those sentiments Milton Councillor Jim Wat son asked what position the two incumbents look with re gard to police involved In scuffles When someone kicks an officer In the ribs or slaps his face do you expect him lo take It or take his billy stick out and lace the guy Mayor Hill explained thai even when an officer is kicked or slapped he still can lay a finger on him Barrett said police officers arc all professionals and have to act like professionals at times We ve had cruisers wrecked an officer knifed and we ve have officers barricaded in cars and had to radio for help It always the way it appears in the press CARPET CORNER 11 MAIN ST NORTH ACTON 8533620 You Headquarters in Halton Hills for CARPETING CUSHION FLOORING DRAPERIES CERAMIC TILES in Human Relations from Humber College The house has been com renovated and the basement Is being specially set up for games and other recreation Her daughter Rosemary Schonnop will run the hand craft program There is hour medical coverage Mrs Booth ex plains THE OLD BAM SPECIALTY SHOPS and BOUTIQUES downtown Georgetowns newest at Main and Mill Streets in Enmy GmRoom Chi it I in Handbagi Small Crilir a fashion boutique with eateing a assortment handbags gfoies asdton seawes and many items at on and the fashion floor UPSTAIRS ON THE FASHION FLOOR Scarves 3eits Mugs Imported Domestic Leather SWEATERS 20 OFF UPSTAIRS ON THE FASHION FLOOR Gifts for dim ale one Men Boutique EVER TO KEEP BABY HAPPY Clothing and playthings from newborn to 6X CHRISTMAS ITEMS OFF the umbrella Its a SMALL WORL downtown 8770515 UPSTAIRS ON THE FASHION FLOOR DECORU FURNISHINGS FINE ART ANTIQUES TO MAKE YOUR HOME MORE BEAUTIFUL I DECORUM I 8770622 SOLAR COMPONENTS SYSTEMS Canadian Books on energy Come in and see us The Energy Workshop 78 Main St S Georgetown more power to you ON THE MAIN FLOOR Games Toys Puzzles Star Wars For I and g k tis Dominoes Radio control cars Chess Man Jong Doll clothes machines toys War Games Puzzles J puzzles Mind teasers Cards end accessories the Games Room 8771263 Custom Framing Prints Posters Reproductions in Oil Miniatures Mats Standard size frames In stock MIWOM GEORGETOWN CHRISTIAN