Edmonton
Sun
| NEWS |
Wednesday, September 26, 2001 |
Cops will take report seriously
Release of woman's study on police misconduct greeted with more
allegations
By DAN PALMER, EDMONTON SUN
Any new allegations of police misconduct generated by
a report written by a self-proclaimed family advocate will be taken seriously by city
cops, says a spokesman for the force.
"Anybody who has a concern about an investigation has to let us know so we can do
something about it," Sgt. Jeff Anderson said yesterday.
Louise Malenfant of Parents Helping Parents said she received at least four phone calls
yesterday from people alleging police misconduct similar to what she outlined in her
report.
"I've been on the phone all day," she said.
The 42-year-old's report - compiled over a year after she reviewed court documents and
interviewed witnesses in three alleged child abuse cases - claims such things as a cop in
the child abuse unit allegedly telling a witness a man was guilty of abusing a child
before the man was convicted of a crime.
"They're basically becoming judge and jury, determining the guilt of the
accused," she said.
The Sun also received a handful of calls yesterday after a story about the report was
published.
One man, who asked not to be named, alleged a cop told a witness that his male relative,
who is accused of sexual assault against a woman, was guilty before being convicted of a
crime.
Stephen Jenuth, president of the Alberta Civil Liberties Association, said the
administration of justice can be put in danger if police unfairly influence a witness.
"Police should be very careful about what they say to a witness because it could
taint evidence and could convict someone who's not guilty," he said.
The city police internal affairs division is now investigating the allegations in
Malenfant's report.
Anderson said he couldn't talk about the allegations.
"It certainly wouldn't be fair to talk about something when it's under
investigation," he said.
However, if more concerns about the police surface because of the Malenfant report, the
public is encouraged to send a complaint to city cops, said Anderson.
The sergeant was surprised so many people had contacted Malenfant and The Sun.
"I don't recall concerns in the past, perhaps it's something that needs to be dealt
with," he said.
Malenfant said she's happy that her work has created such a stir, but added she's
disappointed that so many people have contacted her.
That's because the new calls to her mean that there may be more problems within the city
police that need to be addressed.
"I'm not happy so many people (allegedly) suffered," she said.
If, after researching the new cases, she believes the callers' cases are valid, she said
she plans to prepare another report and submit it to the Edmonton Police Service.
© Edmonton Sun
Back to Table of Contents
The report that got
things rolling
Original article in the Edmonton Sun: Guilt before proof?
Follow-up Sep.27, 2001: Response
thrills report's author
Report Rocks Edmonton Child
Abuse Police — Editorial in Edmonton Sun, Sep. 30, 2001 |
