[Newsbot]

Title: Firing �almost a certainty' if police officer lies, says Edmonton police chief
Category: Law & Order
Posted By: DrCaleb
Date: 2013-02-05 11:35:37
Canadian

[uwish]

don't tell Eyebrock after all, Police can do no wrong.

[Prof_Chomsky]

It should be more severe than losing a job. When you're trusted with enforcing laws a breach of that trust is far more severe than if an ordinary citizen lies.

[DrCaleb]

Prof_Chomsky Prof_Chomsky:

It should be more severe than losing a job. When you're trusted with enforcing laws a breach of that trust is far more severe than if an ordinary citizen lies.

What can be more severe without lying becoming illegal?

And if it becomes illegal, it will outlaw politicians. So it's won't happpen.

[andyt]

Supplying false information on a search warrant is a lot different than a pol promising no new taxes. It's more akin to perjury.

[DrCaleb]

andyt andyt:

Supplying false information on a search warrant is a lot different than a pol promising no new taxes. It's more akin to perjury.

Uttering a false document is already illegal. People have been fired from the EPS for lying about having an affair with their superior. That isn't illegal.

[Dayseed]

Amazingly, lying in an information to obtain a search warrant doesn't invalidate the search warrant. The lie is simply excised from the information (and the truth inserted) and the reviewing Judge ascertains whether the warrant could have been issued. If he finds it could have, the warrant stands. While deliberately falsifying an affidavit (an Information would be considered equivalent) is a criminal offence, (See S.138 CC) it's rarely prosecuted.

Where it gets into a thorny issue is defence raising the specter that a police affiant "mislead" the issuing Judge. While it sounds like a scandal, often times, on amplification, there was ambiguity in language rather than a deliberate attempt to mislead. I would withhold judgement on Officer Lamb being a "liar" until I had read the actual decision. She may have lied through her teeth so badly the Judge had no choice but to vitiate the warrant. Judges have also been known to misunderstand their role and re-evaluate the warrant to see if they would have issued it.

That said, it sounds like Edmonton has some really big fucking problems with its police force if it's that far ahead of Calgary in various problem stats.

[DrCaleb]

Dayseed Dayseed:

That said, it sounds like Edmonton has some really big fucking problems with its police force if it's that far ahead of Calgary in various problem stats.

Or, Edmonton is taking public perception seriously and not letting the 'little things' slide anymore. Like excessive force during arrests.

[Unsound]

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

Dayseed Dayseed:

That said, it sounds like Edmonton has some really big fucking problems with its police force if it's that far ahead of Calgary in various problem stats.

Or, Edmonton is taking public perception seriously and not letting the 'little things' slide anymore. Like excessive force during arrests.

I'm inclined to think this is it. We've had a lot of problems in years gone by, overtime broiler anyone? And now they seem to be realizing that it's not enough to be the good guys, you also have to look like the good guys.