Oakville Newspapers

Oakville Beaver, 31 May 2012, p. 14

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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, May 31, 2012 · 14 Rookie cop takes heat over arrest of Halton officer By Betsy Powell TORONTO STAR It's an impaired driving case like thousands of others except it involves a rookie Toronto police officer who crossed the thin blue line and paid the price. Const. Andrew Vanderburgh was "harassed and berated" by fellow officers because on Nov. 28, 2009, he arrested and charged an off-duty Halton police constable with impaired driving and having a blood-alcohol level over 80 milligrams, according to an internal police disciplinary ruling. Some officers also allegedly called Vanderburgh a "rat," Justice Paul Reinhardt wrote in a pre-trial ruling. On Tuesday, Vanderburgh was in Toronto's Old City Hall court to testify at Breton Berthiaume's long-delayed impaired driving trial. He declined to comment except to say that while he does not regret charging a fellow officer, the fallout has been difficult. Berthiaume, a Halton Regional Police Service officer, has pleaded not guilty. Also in court was Const. Suhail Khawaja, who accompanied Vanderburgh in his squad car the evening of the arrest. That night, Vanderburgh and Khawaja went to Berthiaume's home in High Park after a 911 caller reported seeing someone driving erratically on the Don Valley Parkway, and had recorded the licence plate number. The officers took Berthiaume to neighbouring 22 Division, the closest station where a breath technician was present, and required him to give breath samples. Some officers there "took exception to a police officer being charged or investigated," Crown Attorney Mary-Anne Mackett told court Tuesday, providing an overview of the convoluted 2 1/2-year-old case. Reinhardt, who is no longer the judge in the Berthiaume case, said in his pre-trial ruling that disclosure he reviewed alleged Khawaja "refused to assist Constable Vanderburgh in the arrest and preparation of paperwork at 22 Division." "Constable Khawaja is purported to have stated on more than one occasion that evening to different informants that he wanted nothing to do with the arrest of a fellow police officer," Reinhardt wrote. Vanderburgh, meanwhile, continued to pay a price. After Berthiaume was released, Vanderburgh drove a marked police vehicle back to his division and was followed by a 22 Division cruiser driven by Const. James Little. Little pulled him over and gave him a ticket for allegedly disobeying a red light, which was later dismissed. Last year, Little pleaded guilty to one count of discreditable conduct under the Police Services Act. Little chose "to disregard his professional obligations and embark on a course of retaliatory action against a colleague performing his sworn, lawful duty," Supt. Robin Breen wrote in his ruling. "He abused his position to express his personal displeasure about his colleague's arrest of an off-duty police officer." Little was docked 20 days' pay. Two other officers, including a staff sergeant who failed to intervene, were disciplined in the incident. One was also docked 20 days' pay, the other 15. "Those penalties are at the upper end and reflect the seriousness of what happened and demonstrate the determination of the service to See Police page 17 W O EN N P O KÄRCHER CENTER MISSISSAUGA We're cleaning up the neighbourhood. For over 75 years, Kärcher has been setting the global standard in commercial and industrial cleaning equipment. Now we're doing it right here in Mississauga. From the power washers we're famous for, to our full range of floor scrubbers, sweepers, vacuum cleaners and carpet care equipment, find it all at the new Kärcher Center. SAVE UP TO $2700 ON NEW FURNACE & AIR CONDITIONER $700 OFF HI-EFFICIENCY CENTRAL AIR BIGGEST SALE EVER! WAS $ PRICE MATC H GUARANTEE. CALL FOR DETAILS. · Free Installation · 10 Years Factory Warranty 2690 3990 NOW OVER 120,000 SATISFIED $ CUSTOMERS 1990 * 96% HIGH EFF DC MOTOR A/C OR FURNACE DIAGNOSTIC ONLY $49 $2000 Off Hi-Efficiency DC Motor Gas Furnace (96% EFF) WAS $ NOW $ · Largest independent dealer in Ontario · Over 120,000 satisfied customers · Family owned business for over 20 years · 9 showroom locations in Ontario WHY AIRE ONE? *See dealer for details 1990 * A+ RATING · 150 licensed technicians · 24 hour emergency service · Registered tssa-wsib-hrac-bbb member · Satisfaction guaranteed THE FORECAST CALLS FOR 9 Locations To Serve You Better! HEATING & COOLING 905-849-4998 www.aireone.com · 1-888-827-2665 Come for a visit or call us and we'll come to see you! DUNDAS ST. HWY 403 QEW WINSTON CHURCHILL BLVD. 3145 Dundas Street West #12A Mississauga, ON L5L 5V8 Phone: 905.997.9099 Web: www.karcher.ca

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